Whether in the short or long term, there are many other ways to stimulate consumption, such as tax reductions and subsidies to farmers and low-income families. All these are able to bring immediate returns. Apart from improving the social security system, breaking up monopolies and improving the market economy system will also help restore people's confidence in consumption.

Chen Jian (Xi'an Evening News): Shopping vouchers may not play the vital role in stimulating consumption as the government expects, because they cannot satisfy people's real consumption demand for commodities such as housing. Due to underdeveloped social safety nets and the growing consumer prices, many Chinese are unlikely to live as free a life as Americans do.

Furthermore, the issuing of so many vouchers may well result in black market operations. For example, in Taiwan, many people cash in their vouchers through unlicensed dealers and deposit the money in banks.

A 100-yuan voucher is unable to fulfill the obligation to boost internal consumption and it is just a way for the government to return benefits to the public.

Deng Yuwen (Oriental Morning Post): According to Mundell's proposal, every Chinese citizen can receive less than 1,000 yuan worth of vouchers. Quite possibly, some people will sell their vouchers for cash. So it's hardly to say that the vouchers can remarkably shore up consumption.

Instead of vouchers, I believe it's more useful for the government to use the money to improve people's livelihoods, for example, raising annuities for the retired and increasing living allowances for low-income urban households. There is also an urgent need to provide farmers with a well-developed social security system and pay off defaulted wages of teachers and migrant workers.

Booming consumption is the foundation for sustainable economic growth, while consumption is related to employment. It's important for the government to get rid of the outdated concept that only investment in basic infrastructure construction will stimulate domestic demand. The economic stimulus package must pay more attention to industries and programs capable of creating a huge number of jobs and public services like health care and education.

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