2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
A study on the process of mine closures and its socioeconomic impact in the post-war Japanese coal industry
| Project/Area Number |
25780216
|
|---|
| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
|
| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
|---|
| Research Field |
Economic history
|
|---|
| Research Institution | Toyo University (2015)
Kagawa University (2013-2014) |
|---|
Principal Investigator |
|
|---|
| Project Period (FY) |
2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
|
| Keywords | 経済史 / 産業史 / 石炭産業 / 炭鉱 / 合理化 / 閉山 |
|---|
| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
This study examines the process of mine closures that occurred in the post-war Japanese coal industry, and its consequent socioeconomic impacts. It is based on the analysis of primary historical materials, such as business documents, and interviews of people who were involved with the closure process. There are two main findings: (1) the process of mine closures gradually became systematic as responsibilities were divided appropriately among the key parties involved: the coal mining companies, trade union, local government, and national government; (2) both the local government and the trade union played important roles in the process of mine closures. Moreover, the former incurred most of the closure cost, while the latter derived most of the benefit. This study will contribute to the progress already made in our understanding of the history of the Japanese coal industry, and will provide a method of studying future socioeconomic effects arising from changes in industrial structure.
|
| Free Research Field |
経済史
|
