From August 17 to 22, the 2nd China-Japan Symposium on Fiscal Sociology was hosted by Tokyo Keizai University in Tokyo, Japan. The event attracted more than 30 experts and scholars from Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Renmin University of China, Zhejiang University and Shanghai Administration Institute, as well as experts and scholars from Senshu University, Keio University, Tohoku University, Meiji University and other Japanese universities. Meanwhile, over 50 postgraduate students from Japanese institutions also took part in the event. Li Yongyou, Head of the Research Team for Basic Fiscal and Taxation Theory & Policy under ZUFE’s Class A Strategic Disciplines, and relevant leaders of the School of Public Finance and Taxation attended the symposium.
During the plenary session, Hideo Okamoto, President of Tokyo Keizai University, delivered a welcome speech to Chinese scholars on behalf of the Japanese participants. He called for further strengthening exchanges and cooperation between scholars from China and Japan, and striving to address major practical issues such as climate change, welfare burden and international conflicts with the theoretical framework of fiscal sociology. Professor Kazumitsu Sato of Tokyo Keizai University reviewed the preparations for the 2nd China-Japan Symposium on Fiscal Sociology and introduced scholars in attendance from both sides. On behalf of Chinese scholars, Professor Fu Wenlin of ZUFE presented the book Public Finance and National Governance as a gift to President Okamoto.
Professors Li Yongyou from ZUFE, Masaru Kaneko, Honorary Professor at Keio University, Kazumitsu Sato from Tokyo Keizai University, Lü Bingyang from Renmin University of China, Xu Yirui from Senshu University, and Liu Zhiguang from Shanghai Administration Institute, six renowned Chinese and Japanese experts in fiscal sociology, delivered keynote speeches on the following topics. Their presentations were respectively titled: Tax Reform and Social Conflicts in the Yongzheng Reign, Rereading Schumpeter, What Is Fiscal Sociology: An Interpretation of Modern Fiscal Issues, Cultural Foundations of Public Finance, Peace and Public Finance: Transition from the War Fiscal State to the Democratic Fiscal State, and New Progress in China’s Fiscal Sociology.
At the special academic seminar, six scholars delivered presentations respectively. They included Associate Professor Shintaro Kurachi from Meiji University, Professor Fu Wenlin and Professor Lu Jiankun from ZUFE, Professor Hakuro Sasaki from Tohoku University, Research Fellow Zhang Xiaoming from Zhejiang University, and Associate Professor Gao Lin from ZUFE. Their topics included: The Feasibility of International Comparison in Fiscal Sociology, Population Aging and Restructuring of Interregional Fiscal Distribution in China, A Japan-Germany Comparison of the Long-term Care Insurance System in Fiscal Sociology of Taxation, Changes in China’s Social Structure and Adjustment of the Fiscal System, and The Political and Social Foundations of the Rise of Equalization Transfer Payments in China. Subsequently, participating scholars engaged in lively discussions centering on national fiscal systems from the perspective of fiscal sociology.
Members of ZUFE’s Disciplinary Team on Basic Fiscal and Taxation Theory and Policy conducted a bilateral exchange visit to Senshu University. They held in-depth discussions with the team led by Professor Xu Yirui on textbook development for fiscal sociology, joint postgraduate training, arrangements for the 3rd China-Japan Symposium on Fiscal Sociology, as well as comparative studies on fiscal systems and infrastructure maintenance investment in China and Japan. To further expand the influence of the symposium, the two sides agreed to jointly apply for the China-Japan Bilateral Exchange and Symposium Program, which is co-funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).
It is reported that the China-Japan Symposium on Fiscal Sociology was co-initiated by ZUFE, Tokyo Keizai University and Senshu University. Committed to advancing Sino-Japanese collaborative research and talent cultivation in fiscal sociology, the symposium held its inaugural session successfully at ZUFE in August 2024.
(Editor: Che Peng)
