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Shift in Policy Responses to Low Fertility and Population Decline Crisis in Japan : Focused on local-approaching cases of Sano City and Nagoya City

  • JAPAN SPACE
  • 2024, (35), pp.73~113
  • Publisher : The Institute of Japanese Studies
  • Research Area : Social Science > Area Studies
  • Received : May 20, 2024
  • Accepted : May 27, 2024
  • Published : June 30, 2024

Lee Ji Young 1

1국립창원대학교 사회과학연구소

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This article examines the shift in policy responses to low birth rate and population decline crisis focused on local-approaching cases of Sano City and Nagoya City. As a result of the analysis, the following implications were obtained. First, Japan considers population size and regional balance from a longer-term perspective, with the central government setting direction and support, large cities establishing and promoting measures to respond to low birth rate and population decline at the regional level, and small and mediumsized cities promoting local based policy responces throug Evidence-Based Policies Making. Each actor has a role and function. Second, each city is carefully analyzing the causes of low birth rates and systematically establishing and implementing countermeasures. Sano City is using the tools for local low birth rate to reduce childbirth costs and improve residential space, and is conducting a comprehensive review of existing policy responses to low birth rate to identify contents for improvement and determine policy priorities. Nagoya City is focusing on strengthening the linkage support for each life cycle from childbirth - childcare - daycare - kindergarten – elementary, middle and high school, and improving the residential environment as a response to the outflow of the youth population to Tokyo. Third, each strategy is being used to mobilize support and reach consensus on policy responces to low birth rate. Sano City actively utilized workshops and headquarters meetings for policy responces to low fertility to reach consensus and share awareness of the problem at the local government level and Nagoya City is utilizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Fourth is the establishment of a policy promotion system. Sano City has succeeded in establishing a crossdepartmental promotion system, and Nagoya City is continuously requesting the government to establish a new special autonomous city as a long-term goal in order to respond to the low birth rate and population decline crisis at the regional level. This is because the low birth rate problem cannot be addressed solely at the level of existing families or child-related departments, and there are limitations in responding to it only in one city. Fifth, a common phenomenon is that the outflow of the female youth population is continuously increasing in industrial cities centered on manufacturing. This requires discussion and improvement in various fields, including local industries, jobs, social values, and local community culture.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

This paper was written with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea.