Population decrease requires a reorganization of public facilities. Naturally, general hospitals are no exception. This paper deals with the relationship between the location of general hospitals and population distribution in secondary medical service areas. Firstly, we explain the present and future situation of location adjustment of hospitals. Secondly, our study reviews a theoretical model and examines determinants of location choice by estimating a fixed effect model. From the analysis, we found the following: i）The HHI of population is a positive influence for the corresponding hospital, while transportation cost is a negative influence; ii） Financial expenditure by municipality could become an obstacle to restructuring and consolidating general hospitals.

Regulatory supply theory model based on fixed cost is a new approach in line with the public interest theory and special interest theory. The theory is not thorough enough to be used extensively, due to the continuing aggregation problem with regulatory stratification. This study was carried out to extend the model and to measure population elasticity in terms of condominium acts in Japan by time series data. In conclusion, the population effect was proven, and we gained many meaningful findings. First, the extended model shows criteria of aggregation and simplifies the choice of affected population indexes. Second, the study shows the recent regulatory inflation is due to an increase of older condominium stock. Third, the study predicts that shifts from flow to stock in affected population indexes will inevitably require regulatory reforms.

Environmental conflicts arising from concerns of local residents and environmental protection groups pose a significant barrier to the further development of wind farms in Japan, as in other countries. There has been increasing discussion about countermeasures to address the concerns and ease conflicts. In order to design a smooth and adequate planning system of wind farm developments, this study aims to demonstrate factors that determine the success and failure of conflict resolution at the project stage. To do so, this study focuses on public participation at the project stage, and analyzes its function in light of the site-specific difficulties determined by the characteristics of the project. Through eight in-depth case studies, the results demonstrate that the projects with a high level of site-specific difficulties are much more likely to be unsuccessful regardless of the levels of public participation; therefore it indicates the limitation of practice to ease conflicts at the project stage. Barriers discovered to hinder developments include “designated areas regulated by the Natural Parks Act” and “the disclosed 10km grid habitat for Golden Eagle.” On the other hand, the projects with a low level of site-specific difficulties are more likely to be successful with a high level of public participation at the project stage.