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How is suicide different in Japan?

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  • Chen, Joe
  • Choi, Yun Jeong
  • Sawada, Yasuyuki

Abstract

This study investigates suicide rates among OECD countries, with particular effort made to gain insight into how suicide in Japan is different from suicides in other OECD countries. Several findings emerged from fixed-effect panel regressions with country-specific time-trends. First, the impacts of socioeconomic variables vary across different gender-age groups. Second, in general, better economic conditions such as high levels of income and higher economic growth were found to reduce the suicide rate, while income inequality increases the suicide rate. Third, the suicide rate is more sensitive to economic factors captured by real GDP per capita, growth rate of real GDP per capita, and the Gini index than to social factors represented by divorce rate, birth rate, female labor force participation rate, and alcohol consumption. Fourth, female and elderly suicides are more difficult to be accounted for. Finally, in accordance with general beliefs, Japan's suicide problem is very different from those of other OECD countries. The impact of the socioeconomic variables on suicide is greater in Japan than in other OECD countries.

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Bibliographic Info

Article provided by Elsevier in its journal Japan and the World Economy.

Volume (Year): 21 (2009)
Issue (Month): 2 (March)
Pages: 140-150

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Handle: RePEc:eee:japwor:v:21:y:2009:i:2:p:140-150

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Web page: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inca/505557

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Keywords: Suicide in Japan Panel study Socioeconomic factors;

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References

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  1. Joe Chen & Yun Jeong Choi & Yasuyuki Sawada, 2007. "Joint Liability Borrowing and Suicide," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-534, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.
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Cited by:
  1. Yamamura, Eiji & Andrés, Antonio R. & Katsaiti, Marina, 2011. "Does corruption affect suicide? Empirical evidence from OECD countries," MPRA Paper 34044, University Library of Munich, Germany.
  2. A. Bussu & C. Detotto & V. Sterzi, 2012. "Social conformity and suicide," Working Paper CRENoS 201207, Centre for North South Economic Research, University of Cagliari and Sassari, Sardinia.
  3. Okada, Keisuke & Samreth, Sovannroeun, 2013. "A study on the socio-economic determinants of suicide: Evidence from 13 European OECD countries," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 78-85.
  4. Joe Chen & Yun Jeong Choi & Kohta Mori & Yasayuki Sawada & Saki Sugano, 2008. "Those Who Are Left Behind: An Estimate of the Number of Family Members of Suicide Victims in Japan," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-604, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.
  5. Yamamura, Eiji, 2010. "The role of social trust in reducing long-term truancy and forming human capital in Japan," MPRA Paper 26407, University Library of Munich, Germany.
  6. Andrés, Antonio R. & Halicioglu, Ferda & Yamamura, Eiji, 2011. "Socio-economic determinants of suicide in Japan," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 40(6), pages 723-731.

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