Impacts of financial institution for low-income class in prewar Japan

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22101
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0107:Economics, business administration, and related fields
• Research Institution: Meiji University (2022); Tokyo University of Science (2020-2021)
• Principal Investigator: Inoue Tatsuki 明治大学, 商学部, 専任講師 (10876626)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 経済史 / 計量経済史 / 近代日本 / 質屋 / 小口金融 / 低所得層 / 死亡率 / 社会保障

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study elucidated the impact of public pawnshops, which served as financial institutions catering to the low-income population, on health outcomes during the interwar period in Tokyo. An analysis of statistical data concerning pawnshops and mortality rates from 1927 to 1935 demonstrated that the expansion of public pawnshops was associated with a reduction in infant mortality and fetal death rates. This phenomenon can be attributed to enhancing living standards among low-income households by providing low-interest loans through public pawnshops, contributing to health improvements. Conversely, no significant association was found between private pawnshops and health outcomes.

Free Research Field

経済史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、戦間期の東京市における質屋のデータを用いて、金融機関と公衆衛生との関わりを初めて明らかにした。この研究成果は、低所得層向けの金融機関が公衆衛生の改善にもたらした影響を示すとともに、歴史的な死亡率改善において質屋が果たした役割を明らかにした点で重要である。さらに、本研究により得られた知見は、歴史的な知見に加え現代社会においても、社会保障に関する政策策定に重要な示唆を提供するものである。