| Budget Amount *help |
¥2,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,000,000)
Fiscal Year 2003: ¥900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000)
Fiscal Year 2002: ¥1,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000)
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| Research Abstract |
Not all the problems are solved through insurance techniques. Insurance is a method of risk transfer or risk sharing, and, therefore, retains economic rationality. But insurance cannot eliminate risk itself. In this sense, insurance can be described as a passive means to deal with risks. It is important, first of all, to try to prevent and reduce risks actively if they are predictable at all. Insurance is nothing but a last resort. The social protection system must be discussed from the perspective of eliminating and reducing risks rather than being insured or preventing and restraining risks rather than being insured in pursuit of a better system.
Although insurance is indeed a system which is indispensable to modern life, the socio-economic environment surrounding insurance is rapidly changing. In an idealistic theory, a welfare society should be expected to enable a maximum number of people to enjoy liberty and equality. People's mentality must change, first and foremost, in order to improve the social foundation of life.
We have already learnt from socio-economic consequences of the Hanshin-Awaji Great Earthquake that a mere increase of income causes only a debased form of the affluent society that is far different from the real welfare society. We have to make the best use of this bitter lesson in future and construct a society where everybody can comfortably and positively enjoy a long life, importing prevention of risks rather than promotion of insurance.
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