Globalized Urban Economy and Civic Life: A Study Investigating the Relation between Shaping Marginal Communities and Urban Policy Solutions

Abstract

The urban economy of 21^st century Japan has been rapidly globalized, and cities that have been strongly affected by that globalization are experiencing instability in civic life. The reasons for such destabilization are an aging and tangibly decreasing population. Some urban areas are experiencing regional problems. One major regional problem is the “marginal community”; a phenomenon in which a particular area has a high ratio of elderly inhabitants and retails stores have all but disappeared. In this situation, it is very difficult for inhabitants to lead a sustainable urban life. Alternatives and voluntary measures have been proposed as solutions to this issue. One proposal promotes local cooperative convenience stores managed by inhabitants of the community. This method was originated in Okinawa and has been implemented in some rural areas already. This paper suggests that the local cooperative convenience store plays an important role for solving the urban-related problem of marginal communities.