戰後日本兒童貧窮問題的原因與政府政策之研究

Japan's Post-World War II Public Policy on Child Poverty

作佐部彩花(Ayaka Sakusabe)

指導教授 ： 李碧涵

國立臺灣大學/社會科學院/國家發展研究所/碩士(2016年)

https://doi.org/10.6342/NTU201602955

摘要

日本兒童貧窮問題日漸嚴重，根據厚生勞動省的調查，2013年的日本兒童相對貧窮率是16.3％，相當於有六分之一的兒童生活在窮困狀態下。本論文探討兒童貧窮問題的歷史背景，分析目前貧窮兒童面臨的問題與造成兒童貧窮問題的原因，並討論日本政府對兒童貧窮問題的因應政策。
第二次世界大戰後至今，貧窮兒童所處的情況愈來愈複雜。二戰結束後，受到戰爭摧殘的影響，許多兒童喪失父母，陷入窮困狀態。此後，通過高度經濟成長期，日本社會由於都市化及工業化，核心家庭成為主要的家庭形式。同時，男性戶長為中心的社會保障體系與勞動市場結構也逐漸成為主流。
然而，從1990年前後起，日本經濟開始衰退，在後工業化以及新自由主義經濟體系下，派遣員工等非正規職員增加了；再者，隨著離婚率提高，單親女性家庭也愈來愈多，許多單親女性開始投入職場，但女性在勞動市場所處的環境不良，被集中到非正規雇用，單親女性的收入不足以養活孩子，生活因而窮困潦倒。
此外，父母親經濟環境不良的孩子一般比較沒有機會接受高等教育。在文憑主義的潮流中，學歷與職業、收入有密切的關係。日本獎學金制度都採用貸款方式，成為貧窮兒童升學的障礙，沒有機會接受高等教育的貧窮兒童，長大後僅可以獲得不穩定、低收入的工作。
日本政府對於實施防止貧窮政策的態度十分消極，僅止於勸說與要求國民互相幫忙。但是，在低經濟成長的情況下，新自由主義式勞動市場結構與依靠家庭的社會福利體系已經到了極限，這是造成兒童貧窮問題的主要原因。

關鍵字

戰後日本 ； 兒童貧窮 ； 單親家庭 ； 政府貧窮政策 ； 教育不平等

並列摘要

Japanese child poverty is becoming a serious concern. According to a survey from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Wealth, the Japanese relative child poverty rate was 16.3% in 2013, or equal to 1/6 of children living under the poverty. This thesis explains the historical background on child poverty, problems that poor children is face, causes of child poverty, and Japanese public policy on child poverty.
From the end of World War Ⅱ until now, the situation of poor child has become increasingly complicated. A huge amount of children lost their parents and had difficulties in living because of war damage after World War Ⅱ. Japanese society was urbanized and industrialized with the rapid economic growth, and unclear family structures became the typical family model. At the same time, the Japanese government built social welfare system and labor market structure that made males take a leading role as head of the household.
However, as the Japanese economy started into the recession, non-regular workers are increasing under the post-industrialization and new liberalism economic structure. In addition, single-mother families are also increasing due to the rising divorce rate. Many single-mothers started to work outside the home. But conditions for females in the labor market aren’t sufficient: they are forced to work as non-regular workers, their income isn’t enough to raise their child and they can’t help but to live under poverty.
Besides, children whose parents have difficulties in earning living wages don't have equal opportunities to receive high quality education. Educational background, occupation and income have become closely related in the schooling-oriented society. The Japanese scholarship system and student loan system have become obstacles for poor children entering a quality schools, and poor child who don’t have the chance to receive higher education only can get unstable and low-income work.
The Japanese government takes a very passive attitude for public policy on child poverty and asks Japanese people to help each other. But the new liberalism labor market structure and social welfare system that depend on family have already reached their limits. This is the main cause on child poverty in Japan.

並列關鍵字

Japan post-World WarⅡ ； child poverty ； single-family ； public policy on poverty ； inequality of education

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