R&D ProjectsAn Investigation regarding the Mechanism of Intergenerational Inheritance of Social Capital

General Description of the Research Project

In many rural cities and towns, due to depopulation, aging, and financial constraints, it is no longer easy to appropriately maintain/manage infrastructure and functions of local communities. Thus, it has become difficult for diverse generations to live together and grow happily to old age. In order to address these circumstances, it is important that all the generations share and inherit the willingness for enhancing the value of the region through proactively participating in maintenance/management of the local environment.

In this project, we take two main approaches to resolve the above issue: a questionnaire on the Web, and case studies in multiple areas. Through these, we will clarify the mechanism of intergenerational handover of positive participation in altruistic behavior including community activities, while allowing some modification according to the modern needs. Based on results of the two approaches, we will propose a method to increase the sustainability of community activities, including those in the future as well as existing ones which are valuable but have poor prospects for continuity.