Educational Equity and the Allocation of Financial Resources

Abstract

Educational equity is a cornerstone of social justice, and the allocation of financial resources—as the key support for educational development—directly affects the extent to which equity is realized. This paper examines the intrinsic relationship between educational equity and financial resource allocation. First, it reviews the current status of educational finance in China and analyzes how interregional, urban–rural, and interschool imbalances shape equity of opportunity, process, and outcome. Second, at the theoretical level, it explicates the transmission mechanisms through which resource allocation influences equity—via funding scale, structural optimization, and distribution arrangements—and uses empirical evidence to validate their dynamic relationship. Finally, in view of structural contradictions in current allocation practices, it proposes policy measures to advance the coordinated pursuit of educational equity and financial efficiency, including improving the transfer-payment system, optimizing the direction of financial inputs, and innovating educational-finance instruments. The study offers theoretical reference and practical guidance for achieving high-quality, balanced educational development.