Japan-Sweden Joint Study on Economic and Social Policy Management

1996 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 08044035
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for international Scientific Research
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: Joint Research
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: MARUO Naomi Faculty of Policy Management Keio University, Professor, 総合政策学部, 教授 (30055107)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): ベンクト ステムネ ストックホルム経済大学, 経済学部, 教授 ; エスキル ワーデンショー ストックホルム大学, 社会科学研究所, 教授 ; KIDO Yoshiko Keio University, Faculty of Commerce, Professor, 商学部, 教授 (60214839) ; SHIMADA Haruo Keio University, Faculty of Economics, Professor, 経済学部, 教授 (50051743) ; NAGAYAMA Yasuhiko Tokai University, Faculty of Humanities and Culture, Professor, 教養学部, 教授 (40055942) ; WADENSJO Eskil Stockbolm University, Faculty of Social Science, Professor & Dean of the Faculty ; STYMNE Bengt Stockholm School of Economics, Professor
• Project Period (FY): 1996
• Keywords: policy management / welfare mix / productive welfare / asset policy / ecocyde / Social support for working women

Research Abstract

The Joint Study goes beyond a mere comparative research. Based on the comparison of economic and social policy systems in the two countries, we suggested a new model of policy management-both at the macro-level (national policy) and the micro-level (corporate management). We compared Sweden and Japan and suggested new models for. (1) economic and employment policy, 2) income and asset distribution, 3) labormanagementrelations, 4) social welfare policy and 5) environmental policy. We intended to investigate the linkage among the above policies and try to integrate them in to a new model.
Fust we compared the causes of depression in the 1990s and gave policy suggestions to overcome unemployment and economic difficulties Secondly, we compared the Japanese model of company management and labor-management relations with the Swedish model and suggested a new model of company management and labor-management relations. Thirdly, we discussed how to reform social security and how to finance the social security systems when the ageing of the population proceeds and the rate of economic growth declines. Fourthly, ecocyde policy in Scandinavian countries and Japan is compared. In this field, Sweden and Denmark are pioneers. The experiences of Scandinavian countries suggest interesting tax/incenitve systems that induce waste to reuse and recyde.