Abstract
We discuss the concept of social capital, which has received much attention recently. Social capital is important for the following 2 key reasons: (1) a highly democratic polity and a strong economic performance that attaches great importance to the public good can be achieved on the basis of high social capital; and (2) social capital can effect health status in the human population, and widening of income inequality harms human health through the erosion of social capital. In addition, there are 3 political implications of social capital for Japanese society: (1) social capital has implications for the political decision of whether Japanese society should adopt a "medium burden for medium welfare" or a "low burden for small welfare" model together with the concept of social overhead capital; (2) reciprocity, which is one of the primary components of social capital, is similar to the philosophy underlying the health care system of Japan; (3) Japanese society needs to change from a society that emphasizes the relationships between its members to a society that is open to outsiders and has sufficient opportunities. Copyright
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 1 |
| Journal | Acta Medica Okayama |
| Volume | 62 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2008 |
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Keywords
- Income inequality and health
- Network of civic engagements
- Norm of reciprocity
- Social capital
- Trust
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
Cite this
Policy implications of social capital for the Japanese social security system. / Hamada, Jun; Takao, Soshi.
In: Acta Medica Okayama, Vol. 62, No. 5, 1, 10.2008.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Policy implications of social capital for the Japanese social security system
AU - Hamada, Jun
AU - Takao, Soshi
PY - 2008/10
Y1 - 2008/10
N2 - We discuss the concept of social capital, which has received much attention recently. Social capital is important for the following 2 key reasons: (1) a highly democratic polity and a strong economic performance that attaches great importance to the public good can be achieved on the basis of high social capital; and (2) social capital can effect health status in the human population, and widening of income inequality harms human health through the erosion of social capital. In addition, there are 3 political implications of social capital for Japanese society: (1) social capital has implications for the political decision of whether Japanese society should adopt a "medium burden for medium welfare" or a "low burden for small welfare" model together with the concept of social overhead capital; (2) reciprocity, which is one of the primary components of social capital, is similar to the philosophy underlying the health care system of Japan; (3) Japanese society needs to change from a society that emphasizes the relationships between its members to a society that is open to outsiders and has sufficient opportunities. Copyright
AB - We discuss the concept of social capital, which has received much attention recently. Social capital is important for the following 2 key reasons: (1) a highly democratic polity and a strong economic performance that attaches great importance to the public good can be achieved on the basis of high social capital; and (2) social capital can effect health status in the human population, and widening of income inequality harms human health through the erosion of social capital. In addition, there are 3 political implications of social capital for Japanese society: (1) social capital has implications for the political decision of whether Japanese society should adopt a "medium burden for medium welfare" or a "low burden for small welfare" model together with the concept of social overhead capital; (2) reciprocity, which is one of the primary components of social capital, is similar to the philosophy underlying the health care system of Japan; (3) Japanese society needs to change from a society that emphasizes the relationships between its members to a society that is open to outsiders and has sufficient opportunities. Copyright
KW - Income inequality and health
KW - Network of civic engagements
KW - Norm of reciprocity
KW - Social capital
KW - Trust
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=57049093284&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=57049093284&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 18985087
AN - SCOPUS:57049093284
VL - 62
JO - Acta Medica Okayama
JF - Acta Medica Okayama
SN - 0386-300X
IS - 5
M1 - 1
ER -