PART II
CHAPTER 1. CHANGES IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATIONS AROUND TRANSPORT
Against the background of development of Japanese economy and improvement
of national income, various characteristic features are required of transportation,
such as high speed) comfortableness, safety and reliability.
On the other hand, there are various factors limiting the supply of transport
against the above-mentioned requirementMSuCh as the difficulty in securing the
traffic, space, increased demand for environmental conservation, deepening of
labor shortage to which are added in fiscal 1973 a steep rise in commodity prices,
and the fuel crisis"and changes in socio-economic situations centering around
transport in recent years are quite extraordinary indeed.
(1) Difficulty in Securing Traffic Space
Against the background of the continuously increasing demand for intra-city
and inter-city transport, it has become exceedingly difficult to secure the traffic
space as a result of a rise in the price of land and the opposition movement of
regional inhabitants who are wary of the environmental deterioration.
(2) Increased Demand for Environmental Conservation
Environmental pollution by transport such as noise, vibration, exhaust gases
has caused grave problems in some places due to an increase in the traffic volume
and increases in sizes and speeds of traffic facilities, and it has been demanded
that particular consideration should be given to pollution control at the time
of installing or improving transport facilities and that the respective transport
facilities should satisfy strict environmental standards.
(3) Labor Shortage
The transport industry has been trying its utmost to cope with the problems
oflabor saving and rationalization, in order to overcome labor shortage and a
steep rise in wages which accompany the high growth of economy, but the transport
industry leaves no wide margin of labor saving because of the character of the
industry itself"namely, the industry is comparatively higher in labor intensiveness,
the labor cost constitutes a high rate in the total cost of the transport industry,
and valuable human lives and properties are entrusted to the industry--and the
labor saving has posed a serious problem.
(4) Steep Rise in Commodity Prices
Commodity prices in Japan soared in fiscal 1973 and the fuel crisis that took
place in the latter part of the fiscal year gave impetus to the steep price rise.
The steep rise caused a sharp increase in costs of the transport industry and
greatly obstructed its management. On the other hand, the total demand restraint
policy was introduced to overcome the price rise, resulting in the deferment of
a part of transport facility development plans.
(5) Fuel Crisis
The fuel crisis which took place in October, 1973 brought about the cutback
of petroleum supply and soaring commodity prices so that it became inevitable
to revise fares and fees as a result of a steep rise in the fuel cost. In future,
it would be necessary to take energy problems into consideration as one of the
factors that will impose restrictions on transport.
(6) Changes in International Situations
ln keeping with the increased dependence of Japan upon international economy
and with the enhancement of her interpational position, changes in international
socio-economic situationsqsuch as the crisis of the international monetary system,
the fuel crisis and the increased restrictions upon the principl of maritime liberty--have
come to exercise great influence upon transport.
