| date: |
2012 February 29 (Wed) 16:30-17:30
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| room: |
CPS Conference Room
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| speaker: |
Koichi Yano (Komazawa University)
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| organizer: |
Kou Yamada
|
| title: |
Is basic research necessary in Japan? : An answer from economics
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| abstract: |
The budget plan for 2012 of the Japanese government reduced the funds for basic research by 2.3%. It is commonly believed that the cut of the funds is caused by the heavy debt of the government. As the Japanese society is aging in the next 50 years, keeping fiscal sustainability of the government becomes difficult. Is basic research necessary for the Japanese aging society? To consider the problem, we discuss (1) differences between science and economics, (2) present government debts and tax burden in an aging society, (3) economic policy in the long-run and the short-run, (4) the importance of technology progress and the spillover of knowledge, (5) fiscal and monetary policy. Based on these points, nevertheless the future of the Japanese society is not so hopeful, basic research is "fundamentally" necessary for it. Finally, we discuss that it is difficult for you to gain public understanding about it.
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| keywords: |
funds for science and technology, linear approximation, productivity, economic stabilization policy, public understanding
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