Potential of Work and Life without Employment Relationships in a Local City: Case Study of Young Business Owners in Ueda, Nagano Prefecture

• Takashi NAKAZAWA

  Meiji University

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

• 地方都市の若手創業者にみる雇われない働き方・暮らし方の可能性──長野県・上田での調査から──
• 地方都市の若手創業者にみる雇われない働き方・暮らし方の可能性 : 長野県・上田での調査から
• チホウ トシ ノ ワカテ ソウギョウシャ ニ ミル ヤトワレナイ ハタラキカタ ・ クラシ カタ ノ カノウセイ : ナガノケン ・ ウエダ デ ノ チョウサ カラ

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of work and life without employment relationships in a local city through a case study focusing on networking and coordination among young business owners in Ueda, Nagano prefecture. Statistical analysis reveals continuous shrinkage of the number of self-employed persons. However, this trend is not caused solely by the fact that workers who belong to the large cohort of baby boomers are reaching retirement age. Rather, it is noteworthy that a group of “startuppers,” who are distinct from the orthodox category of self-employed persons, exists. Precursory studies described their distinctiveness as they embrace face-to-face interactions with local customers rather than derive maximum profit from the anonymous market, which implies their potential to become a type of community builders. In-depth research on young business owners in Ueda, Nagano prefecture, underlines the stories of previous studies: Their praxes, which are buttressed by tight-knit multiscale networks such as same-school alumni, place-based relationships, or chance acquaintances, are not subsumed to the urge for profit maximization. Even though their businesses and activities do not generate massive economic gains in the local economy, they nurture local culture, art, and social capital and make the community more inclusive. Referring to the work of K. Polanyi and J. K. Gibson-Graham, the conclusion of this paper reinterprets the findings and shows the diversity of the praxes of young business owners which are not subsumed by the market exchange.

Journal

• Geographical review of Japan series A

  Geographical review of Japan series A 93 (3), 149-172, 2020-05-01

  The Association of Japanese Geographers

Keywords

• startupper
• reciprocity
• diverse economy
• social inclusion
• Ueda, Nagano prefecture

Details

• CRID: 1390858131663504256
• NII Article ID: 40022245649
• NII Book ID: AA11591990
• DOI: 10.4157/grj.93.149
• ISSN: 21851751
• ISSN: 18834388
• NDL BIB ID: 030435198
• Web Site: http://id.ndl.go.jp/bib/030435198
• Web Site: https://ndlsearch.ndl.go.jp/books/R000000004-I030435198
• Web Site: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/grj/93/3/93_930301/_pdf
• Text Lang: ja
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • NDL
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed