Dear SSJ-Friends,

We are pleased to invite you to the next GRIPS Forum at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies on December 10.

*Please register at gripsforum@grips.ac.jp by December 7th (Fri) without changing the title.
*If you are arriving by a private car, please let us know the car information (type, color, and number) in advance so that we can register it for campus entry permission.

Date: Monday, 10th December, 2012
Time: 16:40-18:10
Venue: GRIPS　Sokairo Hall, 1st Floor
Speaker: Dr. Akihiko Matsutani, Professor Emeritus of GRIPS
Theme: “Conversion of Ideas to Ensure
Sustainability-Economic, Fiscal and Social Welfare Policy in the Depopulation and Aging Society-”
Language: Japanese, (English simultaneous interpretation provided)

In recent years, Japan is witnessing increased population decline and aging of society. These two issues have a tremendous impact on the existence of our economic and society, built on the fundamental premise that labour force increases continuously, but the government policy has been lacking in consistency due to a lack of effective control measures. It is important to note that inconsistency stems not from the severity of problems created by population decline and aging of society but from a faulty assessment of the current situation and misguided policy responses. The age of population decline and aging of society requires government policy to be characterized by revolutionary creativity and scientific knowledge and calls for a change in people’s beliefs and values.

Speakers’ Profile:
He graduated from the Department of Economics and the Department of Business Administration, the University of Tokyo. He joined the Ministry of Finance in 1970 and established fiscal policies at the Budget Bureau. In
1997 he changed career-path by joining GRIPS as a Professor when he was Councillor of the Ministry of Finance. He earned the degree of Ph.D. (Engineering) from the University of Tokyo in 2004. His academic major fields include macroeconomics, public finance and infrastructure engineering. He published books entitled Shrinking-Population Economy (2004, I-House Press) in English.

*** GRIPS Forum ***
Since its establishment in 1997, the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), as the only graduate school in Japan specializing in policy research, has promoted education and research on a wide range of policy issues.
Utilizing our vast policy network, this Forum invites leaders from various fields including government, academia and business, as well as staff from our own faculty, to deliver lectures on current policy concerns.
The Forum welcomes attendance of GRIPS faculty and students as well as participants from outside the university. Simultaneous interpretation will be available (Japanese/English).

For Access & Map to the GRIPS campus: http://www.grips.
ac.jp/about/access.html
National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS)
7-22-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8677

-------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------
For registration and inquiries, please contact: Ms. Iso

gripsforum[at]grips.ac.jp or 03-6439-6037
http://www.grips.ac.jp/
-------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------