Abstract: Government service purchase has not only instrumental value， but also governance value. But its implementation effect is not ideal. The reason is that as a “structural embedding” policy tool， its operation is subject to the existing political-social structure. Based on the existing political-social structure， the government's supportive regulatory mechanism for purchasing social service is weak while the established political-social structure is mature and powerful. The “competition” between the two determines the operational effect of the “involution” of government's purchase of social services. That is， the government's purchase of service as a policy tool has not achieved the desired effect， and is largely modified and utilized by the existing political-social structure. The key breakthrough in overcoming the “involution” of the government's purchase of social services lies in the improvement of corresponding supporting institution.

Key words: government service purchase, “involution”, institution breakthrough