Generational Battles and Politically Connected Construction Companies In Japan

The NYT had an article reporting on the rebuilding following last year's earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The article is devoted to what it describes as a generational conflict where older residents wanted even the smallest villages rebuilt whereas many younger residents preferred to save money by consolidating some of the smaller villages into large ones.

At one point the piece describes the rebuilding as a boon to "politically connected" construction companies. It would have been helpful...