午夜剧场

This book provides a sociological examination of the functions of public education that were not fully discussed in my 2014 book, Why is Japan's Public Expenditure on Education So Low? Re-examining the Public Role of Education (Keiso Shobo). While the previous book received unexpectedly high praise, it was a hardcover academic text and was priced out of reach for many. This book, however, is a paperback (Shinsho) intended for university students and above, incorporating basic and up-to-date knowledge to make it accessible to a wide audience. Based on this, I hope to provide an opportunity for each reader to think about the public nature of education.

As is clear from international comparative data, Japan's public education expenditure rate is at the lowest level in the OECD, whether based on government fiscal spending or GDP, which indicates the size of the economy. Japan's total education expenditure, including private spending, is at the OECD average level, but this shows that the average is somehow maintained through the heavy burden on households. Private spending is particularly heavy for pre-school education and higher education.

However, this problem is not shared among many Japanese people. While there is discourse that education is a noble and important endeavor, the percentage of Japanese people who want an increase in public education spending is low by international standards. Those who receive an education certainly enjoy the benefits, but the spread of education also brings benefits to society as a whole. However, the latter is not well recognized. Educational researchers have also neglected efforts to empirically demonstrate the public benefits of education.

This book attempts to demonstrate the significance of education from a social science and empirical perspective while introducing cutting-edge research from the United States and elsewhere. Naturally, I am aware of Japan's dire fiscal situation and do not intend to support simplistic arguments for free education. Rather, it may lead to an increased tax burden on the public. Therefore, if public education spending is to be increased, social consensus based on an understanding of the public significance of education is necessary. The question is how to present that basis and evidence.

Japanese schools have been subjected to strong social criticism, which may be the flip side of high expectations. However, bashing schools and teachers will not solve the problem. From an international comparative perspective, there are areas where Japanese education is performing well, and we must recognize that the issues are often related to the labor market or the family rather than education itself.

Wataru Nakazawa (Author)

Chuokoron-Shinsha

280 pages, 880 yen (excluding tax)

*Affiliations and titles are as of the time of writing.