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When Social Norms Influence the Employment of Women: The Case of Japan

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  • Sanae Tashiro

    (Rhode Island College)

  • Chu-Ping Lo

    (National Taiwan University)

Abstract

This paper provides a simple model of social norms and performs cohort analyses to test its theoretical predictions with Heckman’s sample selection model using the 1993–2014 Japanese Panel Survey of Consumers data. Our results suggest that obedience to the society’s code of behavior is fairly prevalent among Japanese women, but the degree of adherence varies by birth cohort and also is influenced by educational quality and standards. Estimates further show an inverse relationship between adherence to social norms and labor force participation among Japanese women, and the effect of obedience to social norms on wages varies by birth cohort.

Suggested Citation

  • Sanae Tashiro & Chu-Ping Lo, 2020. "When Social Norms Influence the Employment of Women: The Case of Japan," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 46(3), pages 460-482, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:easeco:v:46:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1057_s41302-019-00154-3
    DOI: 10.1057/s41302-019-00154-3
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Employment; Labor supply; Wage; Social norms;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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