[Place] Institute for International Socio-Economic Studies
[Lecturers] Hiroshi Nakajima (Prof., Keio University),
Izumi Harada (Senior Research Fellow, Institute for International Socio-Economic Studies)

Research reports were presented by the research teams investigating the digital divide in China and the United States. China is going through a rapid development process from the Huanan Economic Zone to the Changjiang Economic Zone and gathering strength as the world's manufacturing base. It has been suggested that the IT industry may deepen the divide between Japan and China. A U.S. study has found, however, that major socio-economic differentials, with underlying racial problems and regional issues are far more deep-rooted as problems that predate and precede the digital divide. The study emphasizes that there is a significant difference from Japan. The Study Session presented the activities of the NPOs which are actively involved in addressing regional divide problems.