GISPRI No. 17, 1999

Introduction

GISPRI shall implement the projects listed below to survey and research on various issues concerning global industry and culture, in search of preferable relationships between industry, economy, resources, environment, lifestyles, and culture, from a global viewpoint, and for the concept of global economic society, in order to attain sustainable prosperity of human beings; recommend comprehensive measures for the domestic and international communities; promote international exchanges in these researches; and, thereby, contribute to the prosperity of a global society.

1. Research and surveys

(1) Research Committees

     Organize the following research committees to conduct research and surveys on assigned subjects:

(A) Global Governance Research Committee

     Global issues that are beyond the power of one nation to address, such as environmental problems, international finance issues, and multi-national company activities, are growing in significance.

     Considering such trends, how can we create and apply a system of international governance?  The Global Governance Research Committee, in its second term, will review, based on the outcome of the Comprehensive Security Study Committee, the issues of various international systems, such as international trade systems, investment issues  (WTO), and the organization of the United Nations, with focus on monetary and financial issues in terms of various problems arising as globalization progresses.  The Committee will also review the limitation in international cooperation and coordination, and seek the potentials of a new framework.

(B) Research Committee to Study Japan's Role in Asia

     In a global economy, Asian economies face an economic crisis where effects have spread to a global scope.  Today, Asian economies have shown greater interests in how Japan, as the Asian economic superpower, is to address the Asian crisis.

     This Research Committee will examine the prospects of Asia 50 years from now, search for a new paradigm of "Japan in Asia", and examine current economic issues in Asia, as well as its future development prospects, beyond the post-war relationship of "Asia and Japan".

(C) 21st Century Development Strategy Research Committee

     Based on the results of studies conducted under the 2050 Sustainability Research Committee, this committee will study, continuing from previous year, Japan's role in attaining the sustainable development of a global society, with emphasis on what Japan must and can do to promote the economic growth of developing countries. The Committee lists  and its research subjects are as follows:

1. Analysis of the issues of least-developed countries and environmentally-vulnerable parties for global sustainable development, and the study of social welfare indices

2. Study on framework for harmonious economic development

3. Application for international market economy

4. 21st century development strategy

5. Clarification of roles of business entities and NGOs and the policies of nations and local governments

(D) Research Committee to Study GDP Alternative Economy Indices

     People's happiness and satisfaction largely depend on the issues of security, health, and mental enrichment, rather than an economic prosperity as indicated by GDP.  Especially in matured, industrialized societies, factors other than economic indices indicate peoplesﾕ happiness.

     If the policy objective of one nation is to make an environment in which each citizen can live contentedly, then what we need is the index of "true prosperity" called Gross Domestic Happiness instead of GDP.  It may be desirable to develop national policies based on such an index.

     This research committee is to perform surveys and research on what constitutes true prosperity and to review the possibility of developing such an index.

(E) Asian Energy Security Research Committee

     The Asian region is prospected to become a massive energy consumption region in the future due to its economic growth and population increases.  Especially in East Asia, the economic growth up to the present has been depended upon energy consuming industries such as steel and chemicals.  Furthermore, China is likely to have a rapid increase in per capita energy consumption due to the consumption revolution that accompanies economic growth.  On the supply side, however, the oil production in East and Southeast Asia is only 1/10th of the world, and its stock quantity is even around 1/20th of the world, causing a higher dependency on an imported energy supply, except in the case of a few countries.

     Such a gap between the consumption forecast and the actual supply capacity may lead to various problems in the Asian region (e.g. competition on energy development, sea-lane issue, nuclear power generation and nuclear weapon development, and environmental problems).  Without addressing these problems, the security of a whole region may be threatened creating a situation which may have a significant impact on Japanese security.

     This research committee will study the energy supply and demand measures for the sustainable development of the Asian region, and review Japan's role in regional energy security.
 

(2) Consigning Survey and Research

     GISPRI will consign the following survey and research work to an independent survey and research institution.

(a) Research on reaching international agreement on the relationship between economic development and global environmental issues

(3) Consigned Survey and Research

      Conduct survey and research on the following subjects consigned by government and other organizations.

1. Review and survey global warming measures;

2. Projects on basic surveys for improving energy consumption efficiency in developing countries;

3. Survey of Activities Implemented Jointly in China;

4. Projects on Climate Change Assessment (IPCC); and

5. Survey of energy and environment.

(4) Survey and research works with funds from other organizations

     With financial assistance from the Ion Funds, conduct the following research work

1. Research on the way Japan can contribute to the sustainable development of developing countries

2. Proposals on polices and measures

     Based on the outcome of survey and research works listed in section A., recommend comprehensive measures to benefit global industry and culture, through discussion with the Global Industry and Culture Committee

3. Joint research works

     Continue to maintain mutual cooperative relationships with national and international research institutes such as World Resource Institute, Resource for Future, European Institute on Japanese Studies, Stockholm Environment Institute, and others, and perform joint research works through participation in the following conferences, continuing from the previous year.

1. China International Cooperation Consultation Committee on environment and development

2. Meetings to study coordination of environmental conservation and growth

4. Implementation of research meetings and symposia, etc.

(1) Seminar

     "Workshop on Climate Change"

(2)Symposia

     "Symposium Asian Economy in Transitional stage and Global Response"
     "Symposium on Studying Coordination between Environmental Conservation and Growth"

(3) Electronic Forum

     As an electronic forum, GISPRI opens web site on Internet to publicize its research results to domestic and international parties, and to exchange opinions with the general public.

5. Information gathering and disclosure

     Collect and analyze information related to global industries and cultures, and provide the following information

1. Provide reports and other documents on the outcome of its survey and research activities;

2. Publish newsletters "GISPRI Newsletter" (in Japanese), and "GISPRI" (in English); and

3. Provide information on the global environment meetings toward business community.