Educational Inequalities and Securing the Quality of Early Childhood Education

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24530254
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Applied economics
• Research Institution: Institute for Future Engineering (2015); Kumamoto Gakuen University (2014); Hiroshima University (2012-2013)
• Principal Investigator: Nozaki Yuko 公益財団法人未来工学研究所, その他部局等, 研究員 (60452611)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MATSUURA KATSUMI 広島大学, 大学院社会科学研究科, 教授 (80243145)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: child development / parental resource / quality of ECE / child development / emotional health / panel data

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study drew attention to the fact that children’s educational inequality continues to increase not only in response to the growing demand for home childcare but also in recognition of the importance of quality of education and care. The effects of parental resources on child development were examined, and it was discovered that the traditional mother’s role regarding employment and breast-feeding was insignificant. However, the father’s participation in child rearing decreases the risk of child behavioral problems, and further investigation reveals that forced participation in extracurricular activities and over-parenting are negative. The questionnaires were conducted to supplement the information on psychological/practical issues, and thought-provoking results were found; kindergarten/day-care teachers tend to lose their motivation to work due to a flat wage curve and parents that demand higher-quality services but do not wish to pay extra for such services.

Free Research Field

応用ミクロ経済学