Structure of the "Rational" Opinions on Compactness of Local Cities

Case of Several Articles for Debate on Revision of the Planning Law in Japan

Abstract

There are many differences among "rational" opinions of actors (government, private businesses and researchers) over the compactness of local cities. Location regulation for large commercial facilities is one of the recent examples of this varied opinion among different actors. In this research, some "rational" opinions of different actors are structuralized and analyzed. Firstly, in spite of conflicting opinions among actors over the "problem perception" and the "policy instrument", there are no conflicting views for "understanding of mechanism." Secondly, the controversies among the "rational" opinions are caused by the differences of choice of reasoning. Thirdly, the actor's "instrument" potentially influences the actor's "rational" opinion making.