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Reciprocal and prosocial tendencies cultivated by childhood school experiences: School uniforms and the related economic and political factors in Japan

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  • Lee, Sun Youn
  • Ito, Takahiro
  • Kubota, Kohei
  • Ohtake, Fumio

Abstract

This paper estimates the effects of childhood experiences of wearing school uniforms at public elementary schools in Japan on individual preferences in relation to others (hereafter, other-regarding preferences) in adulthood. The school uniform experience can be endogenous if the preferences and characteristics of the school and parents are included in the decision of schools to implement school uniforms. To examine the causal effect of school uniforms, we exploit the exogenous variation in the expansion of the apparel industry across regions, which the Japanese government used as a catalyst in stimulating the economy, as well as the regional variations in prefectural governors’ initiatives for enhancing regional profitability. We find that that the experience of school uniforms increases reciprocal inclinations and inequity aversion (prosocial) tendencies. We discuss the reasons behind the consequences of school uniform policies on students’ other-regarding preferences later in life, with a focus on an individual’s perception of similarity with others shaped during childhood.

Suggested Citation

  • Lee, Sun Youn & Ito, Takahiro & Kubota, Kohei & Ohtake, Fumio, 2021. "Reciprocal and prosocial tendencies cultivated by childhood school experiences: School uniforms and the related economic and political factors in Japan," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:injoed:v:83:y:2021:i:c:s0738059321000493
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2021.102396
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    1. Eiji Yamamura & Yoshiro Tsutsui & Fumio Ohtake, 2023. "The Effect of Primary School Education on Preventive Behaviours during COVID-19 in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-12, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    School uniform policy; Behavioral outcomes; Reciprocity; Inequity aversion; Prosocial tendencies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General

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