The China-Russia partnership is a highly consequential geopolitical alignment driven by a shared goal of countering U.S. hegemony and reshaping the international order into a multipolar system. While not a formal alliance, this relationship is strengthened by Russia's increasing economic reliance on China following Western sanctions, which allows Beijing to leverage its influence. Policymakers should note that while the partnership projects deep solidarity (as seen in high-level summits), it remains complex and limited by mutual mistrust and competing strategic interests. This enduring alignment poses a significant challenge to U.S. interests and requires continued diplomatic vigilance.
How the Welfare State’s Financing Structure Enables Waste, Fraud, and Abuse
English Summary
This CATO Institute report argues that federal-state financing structures for welfare programs create misaligned incentives that encourage widespread fraud and fiscal exploitation. Because states administer programs like SNAP and Medicaid while federal taxpayers bear the majority of costs, states lack the financial motivation to prevent improper payments or close administrative loopholes. The author recommends transitioning to block grants or per-capita spending caps to force states to take greater responsibility for program integrity. Ultimately, the report contends that ending federal aid to state programs is necessary to ensure policymakers remain accountable to taxpayers for every dollar spent.
中文摘要
這份卡托研究所（CATO Institute）的報告指出，社會福利計畫的聯邦與州政府共同融資結構造成了誘因失調，進而助長廣泛的欺詐與財政剝削。由於各州負責管理補充營養協助計畫（SNAP）和醫療補助（Medicaid）等項目，卻由聯邦納稅人承擔大部分成本，導致州政府缺乏預防不當支付或堵塞行政漏洞的財務動機。作者建議轉向統籌撥款（block grants）或人均支出上限，以迫使州政府對計畫的健全性承擔更大責任。最終，報告主張，唯有終止聯邦對州政府計畫的資助，才能確保決策者對納稅人所支出的每一分錢負責。
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