| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 國家發展研究所 === 104 === Japanese child poverty is becoming a serious concern. According to a survey from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Wealth, the Japanese relative child poverty rate was 16.3% in 2013, or equal to 1/6 of children living under the poverty. This thesis explains the historical background on child poverty, problems that poor children is face, causes of child poverty, and Japanese public policy on child poverty.
From the end of World War Ⅱ until now, the situation of poor child has become increasingly complicated. A huge amount of children lost their parents and had difficulties in living because of war damage after World War Ⅱ. Japanese society was urbanized and industrialized with the rapid economic growth, and unclear family structures became the typical family model. At the same time, the Japanese government built social welfare system and labor market structure that made males take a leading role as head of the household.
However, as the Japanese economy started into the recession, non-regular workers are increasing under the post-industrialization and new liberalism economic structure. In addition, single-mother families are also increasing due to the rising divorce rate. Many single-mothers started to work outside the home. But conditions for females in the labor market aren’t sufficient: they are forced to work as non-regular workers, their income isn’t enough to raise their child and they can’t help but to live under poverty.
Besides, children whose parents have difficulties in earning living wages don''t have equal opportunities to receive high quality education. Educational background, occupation and income have become closely related in the schooling-oriented society. The Japanese scholarship system and student loan system have become obstacles for poor children entering a quality schools, and poor child who don’t have the chance to receive higher education only can get unstable and low-income work.
The Japanese government takes a very passive attitude for public policy on child poverty and asks Japanese people to help each other. But the new liberalism labor market structure and social welfare system that depend on family have already reached their limits. This is the main cause on child poverty in Japan.
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