Three Policy research movements in local governments
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Kimie Tsuchiyama
Abstract
Although policy research was not recognized as an activity within Japanese local authorities’ jurisdiction for a long time, the social changes resulting from high-growth period made local authority faced to pressure to deal regional policy issues, for example, pollution and urbanized problems. Policy research started as a necessity to address such issues by “progressive local authorities” from late the 1960s, and this movement had developed Japanese local authorities’ role as autonomous policymaker. It may be seen as the ‘governmentalisation’ of local authorities. Local authority policy research may be divided into: those conducted by local authority officers in addressing policy issues; those conducted by organisations for local authority policy; and by officers and groups as self-study sessions or job trainings. The decentralization reforms in 2000 delegated various functions to local authorities. Local authorities are expected to take advantage from the reforms, and to strengthen and refine their policy research capabilities.
Abstract
Although policy research was not recognized as an activity within Japanese local authorities’ jurisdiction for a long time, the social changes resulting from high-growth period made local authority faced to pressure to deal regional policy issues, for example, pollution and urbanized problems. Policy research started as a necessity to address such issues by “progressive local authorities” from late the 1960s, and this movement had developed Japanese local authorities’ role as autonomous policymaker. It may be seen as the ‘governmentalisation’ of local authorities. Local authority policy research may be divided into: those conducted by local authority officers in addressing policy issues; those conducted by organisations for local authority policy; and by officers and groups as self-study sessions or job trainings. The decentralization reforms in 2000 delegated various functions to local authorities. Local authorities are expected to take advantage from the reforms, and to strengthen and refine their policy research capabilities.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures and tables vii
- Notes on contributors ix
- Editors’ introduction to the series xi
- Policy analysis in Japan: the state of the art 1
-
Styles and Methods of Policy Analysis in Japan
- Historical background of policy analysis in Japan 15
- Beyond a formal approach? Seeking adequate policy analysis in Japan 27
- Policy research movements in local governments 41
- Policy analysis and normative theory: with a focus on social security policies 57
- Law and public policy in contemporary Japan 73
-
Policy Analysis in Japanese Governments
- Policy analysis and the policy process in Japanese government 91
- In-house think tanks of ministries: their functions and limitations in policy formulation 103
- A policy analysis of the Japanese Diet from the perspective of ‘Legislative Supporting Agencies’ 123
- Councils, policy analysis and policy evaluation 139
- Local governments and policy analysis in Japan after the Second World War 149
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Parties, Interest Groups and Advocacy-Based Policy Analysis
- Policy analysis and policymaking by Japanese political parties 165
- Business associations and labour unions 185
- Current state of non-profit organizations and the ‘New Public Commons’ 199
- Think tanks and policy analysis: meeting the challenges of think tanks in Japan 215
- Policy analysis in the mass media 235
-
Future Directions of Policy Analysis in Japan
- Policy education in Japan: a study of professional graduate public policy schools 251
- Job market for public policy programme graduates in Japan 271
- Conclusion: future directions of the theory and practice of public policy analysis in Japan 289
- Index 303
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures and tables vii
- Notes on contributors ix
- Editors’ introduction to the series xi
- Policy analysis in Japan: the state of the art 1
-
Styles and Methods of Policy Analysis in Japan
- Historical background of policy analysis in Japan 15
- Beyond a formal approach? Seeking adequate policy analysis in Japan 27
- Policy research movements in local governments 41
- Policy analysis and normative theory: with a focus on social security policies 57
- Law and public policy in contemporary Japan 73
-
Policy Analysis in Japanese Governments
- Policy analysis and the policy process in Japanese government 91
- In-house think tanks of ministries: their functions and limitations in policy formulation 103
- A policy analysis of the Japanese Diet from the perspective of ‘Legislative Supporting Agencies’ 123
- Councils, policy analysis and policy evaluation 139
- Local governments and policy analysis in Japan after the Second World War 149
-
Parties, Interest Groups and Advocacy-Based Policy Analysis
- Policy analysis and policymaking by Japanese political parties 165
- Business associations and labour unions 185
- Current state of non-profit organizations and the ‘New Public Commons’ 199
- Think tanks and policy analysis: meeting the challenges of think tanks in Japan 215
- Policy analysis in the mass media 235
-
Future Directions of Policy Analysis in Japan
- Policy education in Japan: a study of professional graduate public policy schools 251
- Job market for public policy programme graduates in Japan 271
- Conclusion: future directions of the theory and practice of public policy analysis in Japan 289
- Index 303
