2006 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
An empirical analysis on the impact on city deterioration of regional industrial/urban policies
| Project/Area Number |
16330050
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Economic policy
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| Research Institution | Nihon University |
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Principal Investigator |
INABA Yoji Nihon University, College of Law, Professor, 法学部, 教授 (30366520)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
MITSUHASHI Hiromi College of Science and Technology, Professor, 理工学部, 教授 (50059862)
NAKAGAWA Masayuki College of Economics, Professor, 経済学部, 教授 (70324853)
TANAKA Masahide University of Tsukuba, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Assistant Professor, 大学院生命環境科学研究科, 助教授 (00350744)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2004 – 2006
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| Keywords | regional industrial policy / urban policy / deterioration of urban areas |
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| Research Abstract |
We carried out empirical research works on the effectiveness of the Bricks and Mortar model and its policy implications. According to the Bricks and Mortar model, in spite of the deterioration of economic conditions of cities, the populations of those cities do not decline due to the durability of dwellings.
In our research works, we illustrated the Bricks and Mortar model can be applied to many of Japanese cities. In addition, the technology levels, which are measured by the portion of residents who received higher education, have declined in those cities. A policy implication of these findings is that urban policies to enhance the quality of dwellings in these areas might distort the proper allocation of resources.
We also carried out a survey on the policy makers asking their assessment on the current conditions of their own cities. The survey questionnaires were sent to all city governments in Japan and half of them replied. According to the survey, policies to promote their local economies are different between large and small cities. While large cities with population of over 100,000 are quite active in revitalizing the activities of central parts of their cities, smaller cities do not put a priority to the revitalization of their downtown areas. In fact, our field study on the city of Suzaka whose population is approximately 50 thousands shows the land use pattern of downtown areas has been sifting from commercial to residential reflecting market value of real estate. So in the long run, the impact which the Bricks and Mortar model points out may be adjusted by market forces.
The results of our study imply the followings. In the short-run, policy measures to enhance residential quality in order to sustain population in large cities may not be desirable. However, similar majors implemented in smaller cities may have positive impact on the land use patterns reflecting changes in market values.
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