「地域政策」と地方行政

Abstract

A distinguishing trait of the decision-making process on the local-government level in Japan is the strong influence exerted by the central government. In fact, local autonomy has been and continues to be greatly circumscribed by interference from the central government. The control from the center is getting stronger, and the local planning bodies are acting as mere agents of Tokyo. Thus local leaders are continuously looking to and working through central administrative and parliamentary channels; they insist that grants-in-aid be given as if their “local interests” were “national interests”. This stems from the central government's ability to control local policy-making through grants-in-aid. In deciding the need for grantsin-aid, popular participation by local inhabitants is minimal. Rather, the local administrative leaders' attention is directed to the possibility of getting or not getting the “approval of the central government”.1. Problems of local policy.2. The central government's role in the decision-making process of regional policy—characteristics of policy-making on the local level; grants-in-aid administration and regional power; dilemma of grants-in-aid control.3. Regional development and administrative process—commencement of development policy; development policy in the embryonic stage; high priority development regions.4. Regional policy-making process—role of local government; heteronomy of regional policy; enticement of the central government's interest; regional planning in heavy industry areas; regional planning in underdeveloped areas.5. Political process of designating standards for regional development—plurality of designation standards; regional inhabitants and regional power.