ACHIEVEMENTS AND PROBLEMS OF PROPOSAL SYSTEMS OF REGIONAL POLICIES FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN TOHOKU REGION

Abstract

 Last decade, many proposal systems have been introduced as a form of decentralization efforts. Under the proposal systems, local governments can make proposals related to their regional policies or projects, then the central government assesses the proposals and supports only the proposals that have passed its assessment. In this study, we reexamine the achievements and problems of the proposal systems from the viewpointts of local governments in Tohoku region. Firstly, using the database of implemented policies and projects, we show the characteristics of the local governments that are positive for the proposal systems. Then, using the results of questionnaire survey, we show the impacts of the introduction of proposal systems on the planning process of regional policy in the local governments.