Jun 24, 2011 - Mar 31, 2012
| Leader |
|
|---|
In the recovery and reconstruction process in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake, confusions and delays have been observed in policy making and implementation. They can partially be explained by technical difficulties caused by the unprecedented scale of the tsunami disaster. They also stem from the dysfunction of policy-making mechanisms connecting the central and local governments under the conditions in which many functions of local governments were lost or weakened. Furthermore, lessons from the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake may not have been learned sufficiently at the central government level. Since a large-scale serious disaster of the same intensity and extensity may hit Japan anytime again, we urgently need to analyze experiences of policy making and implementation during the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and the Great East Asia Earthquake to improve policy making mechanisms and to be better prepared for any disaster in the future. For this purpose, this research project intends to conduct a preliminary study in the following three areas. On the basis of the research materials collected in this project, we plan to shift to a full-scale research project in the near future. 1. News items from major dailies will be collected with regard to the activities of ministries and agencies of the central government, local governments, and private organizations/entities for the period following the March 11th earthquake. These items will be analyzed and summarized for each of the following themes: emergency rescue, recovery, and reconstruction. 2. News items from major dailies will be collected with regard to the financing for recovery and reconstruction. Emergency lending for SMEs, loan guarantees, PPP, and earthquake insurance will be among the subjects to be covered. 3. Major books and articles will be collected and analyzed with regard to policy making/implementation and financing for recovery and reconstruction during the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake debacle.