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Effects of mandatory residencies on female physicians’ specialty choices: Evidence from Japan's new medical residency program

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  • Okumura, Tsunao
  • Ueno, Yuko
  • Usui, Emiko

Abstract

Female physicians remain underrepresented in surgical specialties in Japan. The 2004 New Postgraduate Medical Education Program mandated a two-year rotating residency that allowed residents to choose their specialty after training in multiple fields, including surgery. Following this reform, there was a 2.7 percentage points increase in female physicians choosing general surgery and a 1.5 percentage points increase in urology being chosen, compared to male physicians, as well as a 3.4 percentage points decrease in internal medicine being chosen. This shift of female physicians toward male-dominated surgical specialties is primarily seen in breast surgery, catering to female patients, and in urology, known for its shorter workweeks.

Suggested Citation

  • Okumura, Tsunao & Ueno, Yuko & Usui, Emiko, 2024. "Effects of mandatory residencies on female physicians’ specialty choices: Evidence from Japan's new medical residency program," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:labeco:v:90:y:2024:i:c:s0927537124000617
    DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2024.102566
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Melanie Wasserman, 2023. "Hours Constraints, Occupational Choice, and Gender: Evidence from Medical Residents," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 90(3), pages 1535-1568.
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    4. Esteves-Sorenson, Constança & Snyder, Jason, 2012. "The gender earnings gap for physicians and its increase over time," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 116(1), pages 37-41.
    5. Sarah R. Cohodes & Helen Ho & Silvia C. Robles, "undated". "STEM Summer Programs for Underrepresented Youth Increase STEM Degrees," Mathematica Policy Research Reports e54c244b982c45589c8e1e55a, Mathematica Policy Research.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Specialty choice; Policy reform; Gender;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J44 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Professional Labor Markets and Occupations

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