Human Action and the Institution of Domestic Waste Management: Mathematical and Quantitative Sociology for Resolving Environmental Problems

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The purpose of this research is to solve the social dilemma problems in the field of waste problem. Social dilemmas are situations in which each member of a group has incentive to make a choice that provides poorer outcomes for all than they would have received if none had made the choice. We conducted the survey on "the Consciousness of Waste and Pro-Environmental Behaviors among Residents, Japan" in four cities in Japan (Sendai, Nagoya, Minamata, and Kamaishi). Incidentally, there are basically two types of waste management or recycling systems in Japan. The first system depends on technological treatment with small number of the categories in the separation scheme of the recyclable materials, which leads to the reduction of the separation cost by the residents. We call this system the "rough-separation recycling system." Sendai and Kamaishi adopt such waste management system. The second system depends on the effort by the residents. As a result, the number of the categories in the s … More eparation scheme of the recyclable materials is large. We call this system the "fine-separation recycling system." Nagoya and Minamata have such system. Based on these questionnaire surveys data, we analyzed the influence of these system and individual behavior in terms of mathematical and/or quantitative methods.The findings are as follows : (1)we analyzed the conceptualization of social dilemmas in empirical science, and found that about 20 percent of respondents think the household waste problem as social dilemma. (2)Public norm is important to solve the social dilemma problem. (3)The feature of the waste management system affects the individual consciousness of cost, evaluation of the waste management system, and policy of local governments. (4)The evaluation of the waste management system and the policy of local government is higher among the residents who live in the city with fine-separation recycling system than among the residents with rough-separation recycling system. (5)The feature of the waste management system affects the estimate of others' contribution to recycling behaviors. Less