Greeting
Japan's former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi defined policy objectives to overcome an economy-wide recession and to rebuild a Japan's economy toward the 21st Century.
This led to the commencement of special projects, Millennium Projects. As part of these special projects, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, has commenced the "Collaboration Projects for studying economic and social system in the 21st century."
The Collaboration Projects address two main themes: "Aging Society" and "Sustainable Economy and Society". These themes now pose a significant challenge to the Japanese and world economies in the 21st century. With the aim of drafting a grand design under these themes, a number of study groups and research institutes at home and abroad have participated in the Collaboration Projects since April 2000.
A total of 24 study groups and research institutes are participating in the Collaboration Projects. They come from Japan, the United States, European countries, Asian countries, and Australia. These study groups and research institutes conduct studies in their respective specialized areas from different viewpoints. Under these circumstances, the Collaboration Projects are designed to examine the main themes of "Aging Society" and "Sustainable Economy and Society" by adopting various opinions and viewpoints in a compound eye's perspective.
Discussions are made though the Collaboration Projects to look at such issues as "Aging Society" and "Sustainable Economy and Society". The points raised in the discussion will pave the way to build up a new economic and social system in the 21st century.
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Koichi Hamada
President
Economic and Social Research Institute
Cabinet Office, Government of Japan
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