Introduction to Japanese Household Surveys [Paperback]

This volume examines the properties of statistics on household behavior in Japan. This work is an essential guide for all researchers who are interested in household decision making and the Japanese economy. Many household surveys are conducted in Japan reflecting the fact that household activities have various aspects such as income earning, timing and pattern choice of expenditure and consumption, asset portfolio choice, labor supply decision, time use, and health status. Moreover, the contents of each survey overlap in a complex manner to present a serious obstacle for potential survey users. In this book, the basic information from each survey such as sampling methods, survey techniques, and available variables is provided and then compared to check the consistency across the same variables reported in different surveys. Exploring strengths and weaknesses of each survey, this book is highly recommended to readers who seek comprehensive, up-to-date information about Japanese surveys and want to use appropriate data for their analysis.

Takashi Unayama is an Associate Professor at Hitotsubashi University and visiting scholar of the Research Institute of Capital Formation, Development Bank of Japan. Born in 1974, he received a Bachelors degree in economics from University of Tokyo in 1997 and a Ph.D. in economics from University of Tokyo in 2004. He worked for Keio University, Kyoto University, Kobe University, and Ministry of Finance before joining Hitotsubashi University.