This study examined the potential of “neighborhood organizations” (Machizukuri Kyogikai, which are similar to neighborhood councils in the US) to engage in community planning in the context of the aging and shrinking population of Japan. Since ca.2000, the number of neighborhood organizations has increased dramatically. The organizations have umbrella structures and are formalized by city ordinance or formal guidelines. Out of a total 1,741 municipalities in Japan, over 400 have established neighborhood organizations. For example, in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima, neighborhood organizations directly implement community programs, such as watching over isolated elderly people. This can be contrasted with neighborhood councils in the US, which do not take on any responsibility for community programs directly. The neighborhood organizations have the potential to become the “urban service delivery system” proposed by Vincent Ostrom, offering a solution for addressing problems related to aging and depopulating societies.

This article focuses on increased public involvement in decision-making in the Oregonian's Transportation Plan from the standpoint of deliberative democracy. In Japan, raising issues on public involvement is the first stage wherein administrators attempt to seek public opinion. On the other hand, in Oregon State, OARs address citizen involvement in decision-making regarding land use. ODOT has worked for community enhancements and raised many issues on public involvement. We also consider another participation design in Metro. Region 2040 of Metro is the project on how one's own urban growth boundary can be effectively managed. In this case, Transportation Planning Public Involvement Policy adopted by the Metro Council includes the details of Region 2040 public involvement policy as the guidelines. These guidelines offer the goals and objectives for Metro's transportation plans. It appears to be based on the importance of deliberative democracy. In particular, in decision-making, we notice a model of deliberation that employs neighborhood councils, including Portland City, as the tools of collaborative governance. These systems used for enhancing the participation of the citizens as a regional governance body suggest the beneficial impact of the application of effective policy in public involvement guidelines in Japan.

本稿は，機関投資家の株主総会における投票行動につき機関投資家同士の繋がりやインセンティブがどのように影響しているかについていわゆるネットワーク理論を用いた分析を紹介し，若干の考察を加えたものである。コンドルセの陪審定理を株主総会の議決権行使の場面で適用した場合，機関投資家の協調行動があると，議決権行使コストは削減できるが，投票の独立性が損なわれるため正しい判断に至る可能性は低下する。機関投資家が協調行動を取ることは，機関投資家の利得・ペイオフを高めるものであり，このような協調行動を促進する役割がフォーマルなネットワークにおいて期待される。また，フォーマルなネットワーク等において機関投資家が共通する株式を保有した「クリーク」を形成している場合，協調によるコスト削減効果が正しい意思決定を行う確率を低下させることを補って余りある場合にのみ，「クリーク」のメンバーは協調することになる。