유바리(夕張)시 재정파산에 관한 연구

This study deals with the financial crisis of local authorities in Japan. This article aims to clarify the causes and its responsibilities of the crisis happened at Yubari-city in Hokkaido-province. Yubari-city is small, but famous for a international fantastic festival and mellon. Economic base of Yubari-city was coal-mining. As energy policy is changed to petroleum since 1960’s, Yubari-city continued to lose the economic base until 1990. Since 1980, Yubari-city tried to shift her economic base to tour-industry without the downsizing of local government. She established and operated public enterprises and the third sector through local bond and borrowing. As tourists decreased, the firms recorded deficit. Concealed accumulated huge deficit temporary, she had to declare financial crisis. Yubari-city will be reconstructed, based on the Special Law for Promoting Fiscal Balance. Citizens, the most serious victims of the crisis, burden higher rate taxes and benefit lower services. 50% of public servants retired earlier and salary of the remnants was cut by 30%. Most of local politicians did not announced candidate for mayor or councilor. Japan and Hokkaido-province control and support the process. This study suggest that the role of local authorities should be restricted to serving to private sector in stead of investing directly.