Takaaki Okuda

On the Change of Virtual Water in China under Regional Restructuring from 1997 to 2000

The Chinese government started reforms and open-door policies in 1978, and the policies have continued to contribute to its economic growth.However, as a result of dynamic growth in the economy, water demand has been increasing and it also has worsened the water shortage.To achieve a sustainable economic development, economic planners must develop an understanding of the actual dynamics of water usage as it relates to the economics of interregional trade.In this study we show a structure of water demand in China by using the concept of virtual water.In particular we estimate multi-regional I-O tables in 2000, and calculate the amount of virtual water required.In addition, we analyze the transformation of virtual water by comparing the 2000 figures with those of 1997.The comparison suggests that the virtual water displacement from the southern coastal area toward other areas would have increased.In the view of Yellow River Basin, where water shortage is serious, virtual water transformed increasingly from the developed downstream.At the upstream basin, the forms of agriculture were encouraged to change and water demand to increase, too.

A Study of Water Resource Supply and Demand Forecast in Xian City

During the last two decades, Yellow River Basin witnessed serious water resource shortage, which has become serious constraint on economic development and caused various negative impacts on ecological system. In this study, water resource supply and demand are analyzed for Xian City which is located at Wei River Valley, the tributary of Yellow River. Then the Water-Resource Forecast Model based on the socio-economic database assesses the annual agriculture, industry and domestic water demand scenarios from 2000 to 2050.

A Historical Analysis of Japanese Road Improvement in Relation to Economic Development since World War II

This study aims at evaluating the Japanese road improvement policy after World War II and suggesting some necessary policies for road improvement on developing countries. In order to cope with the objectives, the effectiveness of the integrated system of 5 year road improvement plan and its financing in Japan is examined and comparing with other countries including developed and developing countries.It has been proved that the system has played a great role for the infrastructure improvement to catch up with the rapidly expanding traffic demand as growing days.