Social Security in Contemporary Japan

ISBN-13: 9780415559409 / Angielski / Twarda / 2011 / 240 str.

Mari Osawa

Opis

The present study analyzes the livelihood security system of contemporary Japan by way of historical and international comparison, in an effort to explore its current route and future prospects. The present study posits "livelihood security systems" rather than "welfare states" or "welfare regimes" as the object of its comparative investigation. It furthermore builds on the concept of "social exclusion," which it understands as the outcome of a dysfunction, or reverse function, of a livelihood security system.

The book discusses the current social security system in Japan, which has moved from a system that favoured the male breadwinner to a more neutral system under the Koizumi administration. However, businesses have accelerated their moves to escape social insurance schemes, partly by extra-legal means, and social insurance schemes were transformed into a mechanism for social exclusion. As Japan has turned into a "major suicide power" and as deeply-rooted poverty is spreading among its youth and children, the very sustainability of its society has come to be threatened.

The author then turns the focus on a possible reconstruction of the pension system and discusses a social economy maintained by not-for-profit activities in search of a possible breakthrough towards a society of social inclusion.

The book will appeal to both scholars and students with an interest in social policy issues, welfare economics and gender studies, as well as contemporary Japanese politics and society.

Spis treści

Introduction: The Aims and Structure of this Book   Chapter 1: From welfare regimes to livelihood security systems   Chapter 2: The livelihood security systems approach   Chapter 3: The 1990s - Japan's lost decade   Chapter 4: Japan in international comparison at the turn of the century    Chapter 5: Taking Stock of the Koizumi reforms   Chapter 6: Beyond exclusion - building a cohesive society

O autorze

Mari Osawa is Professor at the Institute of Social Science at the University of Tokyo.