The analysis of this book reveals that there is a low recognition of publicness in education among the people of Japan. Thus, paying as much as possible for one’s children becomes a natural part of parental affection, and educational achievements are considered to be of private benefit, having been obtained through individual effort.
. . .
There are many people who share in not knowing what function school education serves, and these people probably do not feel very strongly that education must be maintained by investing public expenditure in it.

2014年度サントリー学芸賞受賞作『なぜ日本の公教育費は少ないのかー教育の公的役割を問いなおす』（勁草書房、2014年）の待望の英語翻訳版刊行。日本における教育機会不平等の拡大や少子化の原因の一つとも言える教育費の私的負担の重さについて、その政策の歴史と現状、国際比較を通して読み解き、どうすれば公教育費を増やせるかについて考える。

（原書名）『なぜ日本の公教育費は少ないのかー教育の公的役割を問いなおす』（勁草書房、2014年）