News

RJIF Chairman spoke at the New Economy Summit (NEST) 2017

  Dr. Yoichi Funabashi, Chairman of RJIF, spoke at the New Economy Summit (NEST) 2017. He appeared as a speaker together with Mr. Peter Landers (Tokyo Bureau Chief, The Wall Street Journal) and Ms. Kathy Matsui (Vice Chair, Co-head of Macro Research in Asia and Chief Japan Strategist, Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd.) in the session “Donald …

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RJIF Chairman’s interview in The Strategist

Dr. Yoichi Funabashi, Chairman of the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, was interviewed by The Strategist, the commentary and analysis site of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, an independent, non-partisan think tank based in Canberra, Australia. The interview was published on April 6, 2017. Dr. Funabashi answered questions including his evaluation of Prime Minister Abe’s management …

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Book review of “Galapagos Cool” published on DIAMOND ONLINE

DIAMOND ONLINE published a review of RJIF’s latest book, “Galapagos Cool.” The article mentioned that Japan’s frontiers as an advanced country on issues such as dealing with a rapidly aging society, etc., could become the frontiers for rest of the world, and such Japan’s contribution could also create its own future. The review introduces the …

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RJIF Senior Research Fellow Yoichi Kato participated in a round-table held by the International Friendship Exchange Council

RJIF Senior Research Fellow Yoichi Kato participated in a round-table held by the International Friendship Exchange Council (FEC), “The prospects for U.S. policies and the Japan-U.S. relationship under the Trump Administration,” at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo on February 6, 2017. The round-table was moderated by Mr. Satoshi Morimoto, a professor at Takushoku University and …

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RJIF Senior Research Fellow Yoichi Kato participated in a symposium held by the Global Forum of Japan

RJIF Senior Research Fellow Yoichi Kato participated in a symposium, “The Japan-U.S. Alliance in the Era of the Trump Administration: Crossroads or Continuity?” at the International House of Japan, co-hosted by the Global Forum with the Japan Forum on International Relations and the Institute of National Strategic Studies, on March 2, 2017. Mr. Kato participated …

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RJIF held its fifth anniversary event featuring two panel discussions, “21st Century Think Tank Vision” and “Why Japan Matters,” and the commemorative reception

Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation (RJIF) held its fifth anniversary commemorative event on February 28, 2017, at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo. We think of February 28th as RJIF’s true takeoff date. In the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear accident, we took the standpoint that independence was essential in order to seriously examine a crisis that threatened …

RJIF held its fifth anniversary event featuring two panel discussions, “21st Century Think Tank Vision” and “Why Japan Matters,” and the commemorative reception Read More »

RJIF’s book, “Galapagos Cool,” was published on February 24, 2017

RJIF’s project, “Why Japan Matters,” has two broad goals. One is to reveal how Japan is already contributing to the world, and the other is to seek out areas in which Japan could potentially offer even more, and exert a greater global influence. Its aim is to come up with constructive criticism and creative proposals. …

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RJIF Senior Research Fellow Yoichi Kato will participate in a symposium held by the Sasakawa Japan-China Friendship Fund

RJIF Senior Research Fellow Yoichi Kato will participate in a symposium, “Future of the Trump administration and U.S-China relations,” held by the Sasakawa Japan-China Friendship Fund at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation in Tokyo, on February 24, 2017. As a leading expert, he will talk about how China will adjust their diplomatic and security strategy. Please …

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RJIF Chairman’s interview on ABC NewsRadio

Dr. Yoichi Funabashi, Chairman of the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, was interviewed by the ABC NewsRadio program, “Japan in Focus: Abe meets Trump again, ROK-Japan relations remain tense and Nerd’s Nite in Tokyo,” and the interview was broadcasted on February 13, 2017. Dr. Funabashi delivered his views regarding the first official meeting between Prime Minister …

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RJIF Senior Fellow Masayuki Hironaka has co-written a report from Sasakawa USA

RJIF Senior Fellow Masayuki Hironaka has co-written a report from Sasakawa USA. This report is one of the first to examine the role of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) within the US-Japan alliance, and how the JSDF has over the years contributed to sustaining and enhancing the alliance. As the alliance further evolves, the JSDF …

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RJIF Senior Research Fellow Yoichi Kato’s comment in a Bloomberg article

RJIF Senior Research Fellow Yoichi Kato commented on the Bloomberg article on February 1, 2017, on the occasion of the first trip to Japan by a Trump administration cabinet member, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis. Please click here to read the full article

Co-organized event by RJIF and CSIS (Washington, D.C.) was held at CSIS Headquarters

A co-organized event by the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation (RJIF) and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) was held at CSIS Headquarters in Washington, D.C., on January 24, 2017. RJIF Chairman Dr. Yoichi Funabashi delivered opening remarks, and Senior Research Fellow Yoichi Kato, and U.S.-Japan Strategic Vision Program Members Ken Jimbo (Associate Professor, …

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RJIF Senior Research Fellow Yoichi Kato’s op-ed published in the Chugoku Shimbun

RJIF Senior Research Fellow Yoichi Kato wrote an op-ed for the Chugoku Shimbun, published on January 15, 2017. The op-ed is published in several other newspapers as well. Click here for the op-ed ※ Licensed from the Chugoku Shimbun

RJIF Senior Research Fellow Yoichi Kato will participate in a discussion held by the Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C.

RJIF Senior Research Fellow Yoichi Kato will participate in a discussion, “Strengthening Atlantic-Pacific Partnership,” held by the Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C., on January 27, 2017. Though the United States has alliances in both the Atlantic and the Pacific, they have tended to operate on separate policy tracks. In an increasingly globalized world, the result …

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RJIF Chairman’s op-ed published in the Washington Post

Dr. Yoichi Funabashi, Chairman of the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post, published on January 18, 2017. The op-ed discussed Ambassador Caroline Kennedy’s manifold contributions to U.S.-Japan relations and its historic significance on the occasion of the end of her term in Japan. * Please click here to read the full …

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Co-organized event by RJIF and CSIS will be held at CSIS Headquarters(Washington, D.C.)

A co-organized event by the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation (RJIF) and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) will be held at CSIS Headquarters in Washington, D.C., on January 24, 2017. RJIF Chairman Dr. Yoichi Funabashi will deliver opening remarks, and Senior Research Fellow Yoichi Kato, and Project Members Ken Jimbo (Associate Professor, Keio …

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RJIF Senior Research Fellow Yoichi Kato participated in a panel discussion held by the SAIS, a division of The Johns Hopkins University (Washington, D.C.)

RJIF Senior Research Fellow Yoichi Kato participated in a panel discussion held in Washington, D.C. by the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), a division of The Johns Hopkins University, on January 6, 2017. In the event, “The Way Ahead: A Discussion of the U.S.-Japan Relationship under the Trump-Abe Administrations,” two panels …

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RJIF Chairman’s article appeared in TIME magazine

Dr. Yoichi Funabashi, Chairman of the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, wrote an article, “Donald Trump’s Shock Doctrine Will Make China Even Stronger,” for the December 26th issue of Time magazine. This article is also available on TIME’s website. The article discussed the potential risks to the Asia-Pacific region that could be triggered by a shift …

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RJIF Chairman’s op-ed published in the Financial Times

Dr. Yoichi Funabashi, Chairman of the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, wrote an op-ed for the Financial Times, published on December 7, 2016. The op-ed discussed the future of Russo-Japan relations, ahead of the President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe summit in Japan on the following week. The piece argues that the west should …

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RJIF Chairman interviewed by the BBC

Dr. Yoichi Funabashi, Chairman of the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, was interviewed by James Harding (Director, BBC News) and Zanny Minton Beddoes (Editor, The Economist) for the BBC’s “On Background” radio program, which talks to experts about the big stories of the week. Dr. Funabashi commented on how he sees the trajectory of US-Japan relations …

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RJIF Chairman’s interview on ABC RadioNews

Dr. Yoichi Funabashi, Chairman of the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, was interviewed by the ABC NewsRadio program, “Japan in Focus,” and the interview was broadcasted on November 21, 2016. Dr. Funabashi delivered his views regarding the meeting between Prime Minister Abe and President-elect Trump held in New York City on November 17, 2016, and also …

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RJIF Chairman’s interview on NewsPicks

Dr. Yoichi Funabashi, Chairman of the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, was received an interview by NewsPicks. (Published on November 20, 2016) Regarding the emergence of President Trump, Dr. Funabashi talked about its meaning and its effects on the international order and Japan-U.S. relations. * Please click here to read the article (Japanese)

RJIF Chairman’s articles in the New York Times and the Straits Times

Dr. Yoichi Funabashi, Chairman of the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, has published two op-eds: “The Trump Effect on Tokyo” (The New York Times, November 15, 2016) and “A message from Asia-Pacific to President-elect Trump” (The Straits Times, November 16, 2016). Responding to the election of Donald Trump as the next president of the United States, …

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RJIF hosted two events for the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders Annual Summit in Tokyo

On October 19, 2016, RJIF was pleased to host two events for the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders (YGL) Annual Summit in Tokyo. The YGL is a global community of over 800 rising stars from diverse fields and sectors. RJIF gathered a panel of top experts and practitioners to speak to two groups of …

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RJIF Senior Research Fellow Yoichi Kato participated in the Asian Research Network panel discussion

RJIF Senior Research Fellow Yoichi Kato participated in a panel discussion, “The Asian Research Network: Survey on America’s Role in the Asia-Pacific,” held by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation, and Perth USAsia Centre at the the International House of Japan (I-House) in Tokyo on October 19, 2016. The …

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Dr. Barak Kushner, co-editor of the RJIF book, “Examining Japan’s Lost Decades,” has won the American Historical Association’s 2016 Prize

“Men to Devils, Devils to Men: Japanese War Crimes and Chinese Justice,” a book by Dr. Barak Kushner, co-editor of the RJIF book, “Examining Japan’s Lost Decades,” and Associate Professor of History at the University of Cambridge, won the John K. Fairbank Prize for East Asian History from American Historical Association’s 2016 Prize. * Click …

Dr. Barak Kushner, co-editor of the RJIF book, “Examining Japan’s Lost Decades,” has won the American Historical Association’s 2016 Prize Read More »

Dr. Yoichi Funabashi, RJIF Chairman, will participate in a discussion at the Center for American Progress. The event will be livestreamed on October 5th, 2016 10:00am ET. 

Dr. Yoichi Funabashi, Chairman of the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, will participate in a discussion, “The United States and Japan: The Cornerstones of the Pacific,” held by the Center for American Progress (CAP) in Washington, D.C. on October 5, 2016. Other leading U.S.-Japan experts including Dr. Kurt M. Campbell, RJIF Distinguished Guest Scholar and Former …

Dr. Yoichi Funabashi, RJIF Chairman, will participate in a discussion at the Center for American Progress. The event will be livestreamed on October 5th, 2016 10:00am ET.  Read More »

RJIF Research Director Kay Kitazawa delivered a speech at Japan Update 2016 at ANU, and co-edited the latest “Reinventing Japan” issue of East Asia Forum Quarterly

RJIF Research Director Kay Kitazawa delivered a speech at Japan Update 2016, an annual international symposium providing Australian audiences with a comprehensive overview of Japan’s current economic, social and political landscape. This year Japan Update was held at Australian National University (ANU) on September 21, 2016, and was attended by 300 policymakers, academics, and other …

RJIF Research Director Kay Kitazawa delivered a speech at Japan Update 2016 at ANU, and co-edited the latest “Reinventing Japan” issue of East Asia Forum Quarterly Read More »

RJIF Fellow Miyuki Otomo’s article in the Nikkei Shimbun

RJIF Fellow Miyuki Otomo’s article was published on September 27, 2016 in the morning edition of the Nikkei Shimbun. The piece, “Professional elderly care: the valuation should be increased,” emphasizes the importance of creating more options for elderly care services, as well as the necessity of clear understanding and improvement in the value of the …

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RJIF Chairman’s article in the Washington Post

Dr Yoichi Funabashi, Chairman of the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, collaborated with Dr Chung Min Lee, Professor at Yonsei University and a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, on an op-ed for the Washington Post. The piece, “Despite Trump’s wishes, America can’t turn its back on Japan and South Korea,“ argues that …

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Dr Yoichi Funabashi, RJIF Chairman, will appear on a NHK BS Premium show “Showa no sentaku: Tanzan Ishibashi” on August 25, 2016

Dr Yoichi Funabashi, Chairman of the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, will appear on the NHK BS Premium show, “Showa no sentaku: Nuclear-free world and the challenge to authority – Reconsidering Tanzan Ishibashi”, as a guest panelist on August 25, 2016 at 20:00. Program (Japanese): Showa no sentaku: Nuclear-free world and the challenge to authority – …

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Admiral Harry Harris Delivered a Speech in Tokyo

On July 27, 2016, Admiral Harry Harris, the Commander of United States Pacific Command, gave a keynote speech at the Japan-U.S. Military Statesmen Forum (MSF) held in Tokyo. The forum brings together retired senior military leaders and active-duty officers from both countries, and it aims to facilitate a bilateral strategic dialogue and deeper discussions about …

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RJIF is publishing “The Democratic Party of Japan in Power”

On September 8th, RJIF is publishing the English edition of its third report “The Democratic Party of Japan in Power” from Routledge. The report examines the policies and events during the time of DPJ administrations (September 2009 to December 2012). It drew lesson from the analysis results, based on the testimonies from the interviews with …

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“Examining Japan’s Lost Decades” book review by David Plott

Mr. David Plott, a distinguished business and finance journalist, recently reviewed Examining Japan’s Lost Decades (Routledge Contemporary Japan Series, 2015) in the Strategic Review, an Indonesian journal of leadership, policy and world affairs. View article here

RJIF Chairman’s acceptance speech for the Shorenstein Award 2015 at Stanford University

Photo: Rod Searcey On May 6 2016, Dr Yoichi Funabashi, former Editor-in-Chief of the Asahi Shimbun and RJIF Chairman delivered an acceptance speech for the 2015 Shorenstein Journalism Award Ceremony hosted by the Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (APARC) at Stanford University. Full text of the Shorenstein Award 2015 Acceptance Speech The ceremony was preceded by …

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Mr. Hiroyuki Nakashima appointed as a Fellow at RJIF

The Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation (RJIF) is pleased to announce that Mr. Hiroyuki Nakashima has been appointed as a Fellow. Mr. Nakashima is Senior Representative at the Japan Bank for International Cooperation’s Representative Office in Washington D.C. and from 1 May 2016, he will join RJIF to oversee projects related to geopolitics and geoeconomics. Profile …

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RJIF Senior Research Fellow Yoichi Kato’s article in the NCAFP

RJIF Senior Research Fellow Yoichi Kato’s article, “Japan’s ‘Coping’ Diplomacy, Challenged by Changing World Order” was published in an essay volume by the National Committee on American Foreign Policy’s (NCAFP). The article, which is in the format of an interview, was originally published by the Asahi Shimbun’s Asia & Japan Watch in December, 2015. The …

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Mr. Tatsuhito Tokuchi appointed as Senior Fellow at RJIF

The Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation (RJIF) is pleased to announce that Mr. Tatsuhito Tokuchi has been appointed as a Senior Fellow. Most recently, Mr. Tokuchi was the Managing Director & Chairman of the Investment Banking Committee at CITIC Securities Co., Ltd., and from 1 April 2016 he will join RJIF to oversee the projects related …

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RJIF Chairman named the recipient of the 12th Accomplishment Award by the Atomic Energy Society of Japan

On 28 March 2016, it was announced that Dr Yoichi Funabashi, RJIF Chairman, was named the recipient of the 12th Accomplishment Award by the Social and Environmental Subcommittee, Atomic Energy Society of Japan. The scope of the Accomplishment Award is to honour individuals that made remarkable accomplishments in the areas of the social dimensions of …

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RJIF Research Director Kay Kitazawa’s commentary in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

A commentary by RJIF’s Kay Kitazawa marking five years since March 11th, 2011, was recently published Entitled “The Mistrust Remains,” her piece examines how the response of the nuclear industry and its regulators to 3/11 failed to build public trust, and argues that this still presents a major hurdle for nuclear policy debates where Japan …

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RJIF publishes article on Nippon.com about sharehouses in Japan

On March 2, 2016, an article written by researcher Sophie Knight about the growth in sharehouses in Japan was published on Nippon.com, a site covering Japanese society and culture. Titled “A  Greater Share for the Japanese Sharehouse”, the article introduces several sharehouses that either unite people in a common interest or hobby, or else respond …

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RJIF Research Director’s article in the East Asia Forum

Kay Kitazawa, RJIF Research Director’s article “Five years on, Japan’s crisis response infrastructure still lacking” was published in the East Asia Forum on March 5, 2016. The essay explores the vulnerability of Japan’s crisis management system by studying the responses of four hospitals located within a 20 to 30 kilometre radius of the Fukushima Daiichi …

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Center for American Progress delegation visits RJIF to discuss “Post Fukushima – risk governance and security”

On February 19, 2016, ten members from the Center for American Progress, a leading U.S. think-tank, joined working group members from RJIF’s Independent Investigation Commission on the Fukushima Nuclear Accident to exchange views on the Japanese government’s crisis response to the Fukushima Nuclear Accident in 2011. Both sides were particularly interested in the challenge of …

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RJIF Chairman named the 2015 recipient of the Shorenstein Journalism Award.

“In many ways, he was the heart and soul of what made the Asahi the great paper it is.” Orville Schell, Director, Asia Society On 17 February 2016 it was announced that Dr Yoichi Funabashi, former Editor-in-Chief of the Asahi Shimbun and RJIF Chairman, was named the 2015 recipient of the Shorenstein Journalism Award. Laureates …

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RJIF Chairman spoke at the World Economic Forum 2016

Yoichi Funabashi, Chairman of RJIF, was a moderator at the January 2016 World Economic Forum at Davos. He spoke with Masao Uchibori, Governor of Fukushima on the theme of rebuilding Fukushima and the lessons for the world. Governor Uchibori highlighted several key challenges such as, displaced people unable to return to their homes, the damaged …

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Japan’s Population Implosion: The 50 Million Shock introduced in Nikkei Business

“Japan’s Population Implosion: The 50 Million Shock – Survey Report by Private Ad Hoc Commission on the Population Issue” (English title is tentative), was reviewed in the November 2nd issue of the weekly magazine Nikkei Business. Prof. Kazumasa Oguro, Hosei University, writes that the report is a timely contribution to the discussion on Japan’s demographic …

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RJIF Chairman’s essay in the Japanese monthly magazine, Ushio

Dr. Yoichi Funabashi’s essay “Population Implosion – How will Japan respond to the crisis?” was published in the February 2016 edition of Ushio. The essay explores the Abe administration’s new policy to promote “the Dynamic Engagement of All Citizens” with its specific target of raising the total fertility rate to 1.8. http://www.usio.co.jp/html/usio/index.php (link in Japanese)

RJIF welcomes Admiral Michael Mullen

From January 7-9, 2016, Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation (RJIF) was honored to host a visit by Admiral Michael “Mike” Mullen, the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. From 2007 to 2011, he served as the principal military advisor to both President Bush and President Obama, overseeing an end to the combat mission in …

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RJIF Chairman’s essay in the The National Interest

Chairman of the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, Dr. Yoichi Funabashi wrote an essay, “Japan’s Silver Pacifism”, that explores the geopolitical implications of Japan’s demographic trends. The essay was published in the Jan/Feb 2016 edition of The National Interest.

Japan’s Population Implosion: The 50 Million Shock introduced in Ministry of Finance’s monthly journal Finance

The December issue of the Ministry of Finance’s monthly journal Finance has published an article on Japan’s Population Implosion. The article discusses the founding of the Private Ad Hoc Commission on Population Issue, and explains the Commission’s multifaceted survey and study of the population issue and its policy proposals. The book is described as an …

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