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Women’s Wages and Empowerment: Pre-industrial Japan, 1600-1890

Author

Listed:
  • Kumon, Yuzuru

    (Dept. of Economics, Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration)

  • Sakai, Kazuho

    (Tohoku University, Graduate School of Economics and Management)

Abstract

Using new evidence from servant contracts, 1600-1890, we estimate women’s wages in Japan. Women’s wages could only sustain 1.5-2 people up to 1900, the lowest recorded in the pre-industrial world. We then show the gender wage ratio was 0.7, higher than in Western Europe. Despite this, Japan had lower female empowerment for two reasons. First, absolute wages were low, so women were not economically autonomous. Second, landownership incomes were mostly earned by men, raising their bargaining positions. The low female empowerment in Japan could explain the early and universal marriage of its women unlike their empowered Western European counterparts.

Suggested Citation

  • Kumon, Yuzuru & Sakai, Kazuho, 2022. "Women’s Wages and Empowerment: Pre-industrial Japan, 1600-1890," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 18/2022, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:nhheco:2022_018
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

    Womens Wages; Empowerment;

    JEL classification:

    • N00 - Economic History - - General - - - General

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