Public Services Reallocation Method from the Viewpoint of Functional Layout

摘要

In Japan, as in many other developed countries, decreasing population and associated changes in the demographic structure of society are becoming increasingly urgent problems. Under these circumstances, the supply of public services should be evaluated to reflect the changing population demographics.The relationship between the geographic distribution of demand and the locations of existing public facilities should be determined to assess the distribution of public resources. The present paper aims to develop a public services reallocation method based on functional layout,focusing on a case study of Tama City, which is a Tokyo suburb. As part of the reallocation method, existing public services in Tama City were categorized into three groups; municipal primary schools and middle schools, child-care services, and elder-care services. Second,based on population forecasting, the fluctuation in demand for each service is calculated on a regional basis. Finally,reallocation of the optimal combination of services for each location is determined. We consider this a useful policy planning method in response to demographic changes.