2005年度公的介護保険制度改正の政治過程 –「選別主義的」改正案の政策決定要因を中心に–

Abstract

This article’s aim is to clarify why the revision of the Japanese long-term care insurance in 2005, which contains ‘Selectivism’, became possible focusing political factors. The Japanese long-term care insurance system started in April 2000 with the purpose of being possible to use with any limitation, such as economic condition. In this sense, this sought to change the basic idea of institution from selectivism to universalism. During that period, Japan had faced severe economic depression with the collapse of the Bubble Economy, this has driven the Japanese government to implement extensive intra-national changes. Also, in terms of welfare politics, it was necessary to carry out a fundamental reform of welfare system so-called ‘the welfare regime restructuring’, not just simply expanding or reducing of welfare state. Under these conditions, the Japanese long-term care insurance was adopted, enacted, and amended. While traditional researches on such institutional changes accentuated on the financial and social factors of the amendment, this article will focus on the political process of the revision from the agenda-setting to the policy-making. The analysis is centered on the two major aspects: the relationship of the political actors and political discourses(idea). This attempt can delineate the combined factors influencing the welfare politics. Furthermore, this will offer some implications to understand the political process of contemporary Japan.