Inequality
3 items
A Nation That Underinvests in Education — Japan's Public Spending at 56% of the OECD Average and the Inequality It Perpetuates
Japan's public spending on tertiary education stands at just 56% of the OECD average, with households bearing over half the cost. As defense spending reaches roughly twice the education budget, this article examines why reframing education as social investment matters, drawing on OECD data and social investment theory.
Japan's Education Gift-Tax Exemption Is Gone: Reading the Structure Behind Educational Inequality
On March 31, 2026, Japan's lump-sum education gift-tax exemption, allowing grandparents to transfer up to ¥15 million tax-free, expired without renewal. The government itself cited "entrenchment of inequality" as a reason for abolition. This column examines who benefited over 13 years, and why ending the exemption alone cannot break the cycle of educational inequality.
The Intersection of Climate Change and Social Inequality — Who Emits and Who Bears the Harm?
Climate disaster damage concentrates among low-income groups. The top 1% emit 16% of global CO2 while the bottom 50% contribute just 8%. A structural view.