『２１世紀的資本』在日本有反響, 相繼増加印刷

Last month the NHK News on-line reported the following:

『２１世紀の資本』日本でも反響 増刷相次ぐ

1月10日 18時47分

資本主義の下での格差の拡大をデータで実証し、世界的にベストセラーとなっている『２１世紀の資本』の日本語版が、先月発売され、増刷が相次ぐなど日本国内でも大きな反響を呼んでいます。
１０日都内の書店で開かれた本の内容を解説する催しには、幅広い年齢層のおよそ２５０人が集まり、関心の高さがうかがえました。

『２１世紀の資本』は、フランスの経済学者、トマ・ピケティ氏が、日本を含む世界２０か国以上の税金のデータを基に、「所得」や「資産」を分析し、資本主義の下での格差の拡大を、データで実証した経済書です。
世界各国で格差の拡大が問題視されるなか、英語版は去年発売されたアメリカでベストセラーとなり、先月、日本語版の発売が始まった日本でも大きな反響を呼び、増刷が相次いでいます。
１０日は、都内の書店で翻訳した評論家や経済学者が内容を解説する催しが開かれ、「先進各国で資産を持つ人が、より資産を増やし、資産を持たない人との格差が拡大してきている問題を、データに基づいて実証している」などポイントを説明しました。
会場には、幅広い年齢層の男女およそ２５０人が集まり、４８歳の男性は、「資産の面だけでなく、教育や医療の分野でも格差が広がり、世代ごとに固定化されていると感じ、その背景を知ろうと思って参加しました」と話していました。
本の解説をした経済学者で明治大学准教授の飯田泰之さんは、「この本が、一般の方の間でも大きな反響を呼ぶとは予想外でした。背景には、かつて１億総中流といわれた日本社会で資産格差が、ひどくなってきていると考える人が増えてきていることがあるのではないか」と話しています。

(試譯文)

Using data to prove the widening of disparity under capitalism, a book "The 21st Century Capital" became the best seller worldwide; the Japanese edition was released last month (December) and additional printing was in succession etc. while causing a big public response.

On the 10^th (January), an event to explain the contents of the book was held at a bookstore in the Metropolitan area that was participated by approximately 250 people from a wide age bracket, a high interest in the topic was indicated.

"The 21st century capital" was an economic book by Mr. Thomas Piketty a French economist that analyzed "the income" and "property"; it based on data in taxation in more than 20 countries in the world including Japan to prove the expansion in disparity under capitalism.

Seeing an increase in disparity in all countries as a problem, the book’s English version was on sale last year and become the best seller in the United States. Last month the sale of the Japanese edition was started and there was also a big public response in Japan. Additional printings were made in succession.

On the 10^th an event was held at a bookstore in the Metropolitan area where commentators, who also did the translation, together with some economists would explain the book’s contents, and to explain the points such as "using data to prove the problems that people who have property in developed countries could have more property increases than those who does not have any property".

Gathering at the meeting place were approximately 250 men and women from a wide age bracket. A man who was 48 years old said "not just in property, but also in the field of education and medical treatment that the difference is widening; I feel that it is consolidated by each passing generation. I come here so as to know the background".

Mr. Yasuyuki Iida, an economist and the associate professor of Meiji University who explained the book said that “while it is an ordinary book, it unexpectedly generates a big public response. About the background on assets disparity, in the Japanese society that once boasted 100 million so called middle class, the people who think that the situation is becoming more terrible may have increased".

It is an interesting book. It seems that property value in many countries and regions has gone up faster then the pace of income increase of the local people.