中山間地域を持続可能にする福祉政策―先進事例と先駆的展望―

抄録

The purposes of this article are two fold: First, the author proposes social welfare policies to ensure the sustainability of rural communities in mountainous areas based on case studies on three pioneering cases (Oonan town and Unnan city in Shimane prefecture and a case of Yakuno area of Fukuchiyama city in Kyoto prefecture). Second, the author reports the relationship between the acceptability of artificial intelligence (AI) and the various aspects of social capital (SC) among local residents based on a survey conducted by the author (Miyazu city). In conclusion, the author proposes that 1) ensuring at least 1% natural increase of local population by elevating fertility rate through economic support for child rearing would be necessary, 2) placing more reliance on SC to supplement the shortage of manpower in local governments, and 3) utilization of AI to replace the dwindling supply of social welfare professionals and volunteers. These propositions, when effectively enacted, would ensure the sustainability of rural communities in mountainous areas.