A critical consideration on "Reciprocity": sociological study for realizing critical social policy

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23730524
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Social welfare and social work studies
• Research Institution: Mejiro University (2012-2014); Saitama Prefectural University (2011)
• Principal Investigator: HIRANO Hiroya 目白大学, 人間学部, 専任講師 (20438112)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 互酬性 / 社会政策 / 生活時間 / シティズンシップ / 社会的包摂 / ベーシック・インカム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aims at identifying the difference among various concepts of reciprocity in social policy context, in terms of their structures, and then exploring the potential of theories of “diverse reciprocity”, which is one of new theories concerning reciprocity. Based on these examinations, four key conditions for inclusive society through participation in various activities are pointed out: encourgement of making relationships with others / temporal autonomy (discretionary control over one's time) / income maintenance regardless of working hours / expanded concepts of "social contribution". As one of the possible policy options for satisfying these conditions, this study proposes the combination of job-sharing with the less conditonal income support system including "basic income". By implementing this, people can get their temporal autonomy without losing their economic autonomy. Such a situation enables people to participate in various activities voluntarily.

Free Research Field

福祉社会学