ポストコロナ時代の東京一極集中構造の変動と地方圏の活性化

抄録

This paper aims to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the structural factors in the primacy of the Tokyo region and opportunities and issues with regard to the revitalization of the provincial regions of Japan. The primacy of the Tokyo region has been driven by the globalization of the economy and the expansion of knowledge service industries since the late-1980s. The pandemic has not affected Tokyo's dominance as the global node of Japan, but it seems to be affecting the agglomeration structure of the knowledge service industries and their workers to some extent. The pandemic has changed the values of the work-life balance toward a greater emphasis on the latter, and has instilled new work styles (e.g., telework) in Japanese society. The knowledge service industries, especially the information technology, design, and editing industries, have a high affinity with telework. They are trying to promote the decentralization of IT engineers, designers, and related service workers who have hitherto been concentrated in Tokyo. This is a great opportunity for provincial regions to revitalize their socio-economic situation by promoting digital transformation and upgrading their local industries.