While the first half of the 20th century was characterized by total war, the second half witnessed, at least in the Western world, a massive expansion of the modern welfare state. A growing share of the population was covered by ever more generous systems of social protection that dramatically...

Acknowledgements -- Introduction / Stephanie Assmann -- Challenges in rural areas -- Social sustainability in post-3.11 coastal Japan : the significance of social capital / ALYNE E. DELANEY -- Local schools in remote areas : challenges for youth, parents and community / JOHANNES WILHELM -- The...

This book describes and clarifies how certain problems can be resolved in Japan and Asia. For the future, the focus should be on Japan, which can provide "common knowledge" as a public good. The book collects the results of researchers in Japan, China, South Korea, and Indonesia on declining...