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The Consistency of Japan fs Statistics on Working Hours, and an Analysis of Household Working Hours

Author

Listed:
  • Rieko Nagamachi

    (Principal Economist, Japan Center for Economic Research)

Abstract

This study examines the consistency of Japan fs statistics on working hours and investigates changes in and the structure of working hours since the late 1980s, from the perspective of household labor supply. The major findings are as follows. First, as a result of comparisons among various sets of governmental statistics on working hours, we found that although there was consistency within household-side statistics and within employer-side statistics, there were some differences between the two sets of statistics, particularly with regard to male respondents. Second, analysis using micro data from the Labour Force Survey showed that between 1986 and 2013, there was no change in the average weekly working hours of either husbands or wives in married-couple households, but this was a significant change in the labor supply structure of wives.The employment rate of married women generally increased, and the number of households with a full-time homeworker declined, but an increase in the number of wives with short working hours curbed an increase in wives f working hours.Third, regarding wives f decisions to work, Douglas -Arisawa's Law- which refers to a negative correlation between husbands f income levels and wives f employment rates -was found to be strongly evident. We also found that in child-rearing households, the tendency of number of husbands f working hours having a constraining effect on wives f labor supply had increased in recent years. Men fs working arrangements have a great influence not only on their own individual- level work-life balance, but also on their households f behavioral choices. Therefore, it is necessary to include in household surveys question items that shed light on household working arrangements, such as the main work-time periods and number of paid working hours.

Suggested Citation

  • Rieko Nagamachi, 2015. "The Consistency of Japan fs Statistics on Working Hours, and an Analysis of Household Working Hours," Public Policy Review, Policy Research Institute, Ministry of Finance Japan, vol. 11(4), pages 623-658, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:mof:journl:ppr030f
    as

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    File URL: https://warp.da.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/11217434/www.mof.go.jp/english/pri/publication/pp_review/ppr030/ppr030f.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kuroda, Sachiko, 2010. "Do Japanese Work Shorter Hours than before? Measuring trends in market work and leisure using 1976-2006 Japanese time-use survey," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 24(4), pages 481-502, December.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    working hours; household working hours; children; Labour Force Survey;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • D13 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Production and Intrahouse Allocation

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