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A Theoretical and Empirical Inquiry into the Distribution of Income and Wealth in Japan

Research Project

Project/Area Number 03301080
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Co-operative Research (A)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Research Field 経済事情及び政策学
Research InstitutionThe University of Tokyo

Principal Investigator

ISHIKAWA Tsuneo  University of Tokyo, Professor, 経済学部, 教授 (90107483)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) TACHIBANAKI Toshiaki  Kyoto University, Institute of Economic Research, Professor, 経済研究所, 教授 (70112000)
TAKAYAMA Noriyuki  Hitotsubashi University, Insutitute for Economic Research, Professor, 経済研究所, 教授 (30102940)
HATTA Tatsuo  Osaka University, Institute of Social and Economic Research, Professor, 社会経済研究所, 教授 (70008647)
NISHIMURA Kiyohiko  University of Tokyo, Associate Professor, 経済学部, 助教授 (70164580)
YOSHIKAWA Hiroshi  University of Tokyo, Professor, 経済学部, 教授 (30158414)
八木 匡  名古屋大学, 経済学部, 専任講師 (60200474)
堀岡 チャールズ  大阪大学, 社会経済研究所, 助教授 (90173632)
照山 博司  東京大学, 社会科学研究所, 助手 (30227532)
Project Period (FY) 1991 – 1993
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 1993)
Budget Amount *help
¥8,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥8,200,000)
Fiscal Year 1993: ¥1,400,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000)
Fiscal Year 1992: ¥3,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000)
Fiscal Year 1991: ¥3,800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,800,000)
KeywordsIncome Ditribution / Wealth Ditribution / Labor Share / Savings / Inequality / Deal Atracture / College Education / 大学教育 / 日本経済 / 資産分配 / 公的年金 / 二重構造 / 資産の分配 / 日本の労働市場 / 教育支出 / 日本 / 賃金格差 / 家計貯蓄 / 労働市場の二重構造
Research Abstract

Through careul examination of a wide varicly of statistical sources we tried to illuminate the current circumstances of income and wealth inequality in Japan and the recent changes thereof. The major findings are as follows.
(1)As regards wage income, there is a mild tendency of widening inequality. Hoewver, the changes in the composition of age andd education appear to offset the effects of changes in the rate of return to job tenure, thus maintaining the degree of wage dispersion extremely stable as compared with recent wxoeriences in the U.S.and U.K.The distribution of wage income appears to be more equal as compared with the countries referred to above, yet there exists a clear dual structure composed of a primary sector with high and incremental wages and a secondary seetor with low and flat wages.Moreover, the latter scctor scems to be wxpanding over the last decade. As regards the overall wage share of the economy, the important factors governing its movement appear to be the mov … More ement of aggregate demand, on the one hand, and the institutional sctups of wage changes as well as the degree of imperfect competition in the products market, on the other
(2)When capital income such as interest and dividends, and in particular, the capital gains income on equitiees and land aer considered, the distributio of income including these categories apper to be expanding somewhat in large scale. Also the impact of capital gains on land and equity assets in the latter 1980's was very large in expanding wealth inequality among households.
(3)The rise in the relative price of college education is causing a standstill in the college enrollment among the young. There appears to be a clear tendency for sons and daughters of high income households to concentrate in colleges that require high scores in entrance examination test scores and that are associated with with good remunerations. In thus sense, the equality of opportunity among individuals seems to be at peril.
(4)As regards the household saving behavior, accumulation of both life-cycle savings assets and inheritance assets appears to be important. The accumulation of inheritance assets is nnot soley motivated by parental altruism, but also, and perhaps more importantly, by intra-family insurance. Although the existence of inheritance per se does not lead to increased wealth inequality, there is a possibility that the distortion of distribution via unexpeeted rise in asset priccs may be oassed on over several generations.
(5)Despite the recent shape-up of the Japanese public pension system, there still remains unreasonable redistribution of income through the oension system both intra-and inter-generationally.
(6)In view of an overview of Japan's current state of income transfer to the developing nations, there is a need to fundamentally reconsider the manner in which more desirable contribution can be made. Less

Report

(4 results)
  • 1993 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 1992 Annual Research Report
  • 1991 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (7 results)

All Other

All Publications (7 results)

  • [Publications] 石川経夫: "日本の所得と富の分配" 東大出版会, 360 (1994)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1993 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Tsuneo Ishikawa: "Distribution of Wealth in Japan" Univ. of Tokyo Press.

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1993 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] 石川経夫(編著): "日本の所得と富の分配" 東京大学出版会, 360 (1994)

    • Related Report
      1993 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 石川 経夫: "仕事の満足度の分配をめぐる統計的分析" 日本労働研究雑誌. 34. 2-14 (1992)

    • Related Report
      1992 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 吉川 洋: "A keyneriam Model of Economic,Growth" Discssion Paper(92-F-10),Faculty of Economics,Uninerrity of Tokyo,October,1992. (1992)

    • Related Report
      1992 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 吉川 洋(共著): "高齢化社会の経済政策(第8章高齢化政策の理論的基礎)" 東大出版会, (1992)

    • Related Report
      1992 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 吉川 洋(共著): "The Japanese Monetary Policy ″Monetary Policy and the Real Econony in Japan″" Chicago University Press,

    • Related Report
      1992 Annual Research Report

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Published: 1991-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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