Showing papers by "Musashi University published in 2021"

Human capital and economic growth in japan: 1885–2015

Abstract: This study presents growth account for Japan for the 130 years from 1885 to 2015 based on the measurement of labor quality simultaneously taking the effects of education and the allocation of labor across industries into account. The estimation results indicate that, over the 130 years, Japan’s labor productivity rose 46-fold, with increases in the capital-labor ratio accounting for 40 percent of this rise, improvements in labor quality for 35 percent, and TFP growth for 36 percent. Looking at the periods before and after World War II separately, we found that labor productivity growth accelerated substantially in the postwar period and was twice as high as in the prewar period. This difference in labor productivity growth can be explained by differences in the sources of growth: while growth during the prewar period was driven mainly by improvements in labor quality (with a growth contribution of 37 percent), during the postwar period increases in the capital-labor ratio and TFP growth made the largest contribution (38 percent and 35 percent, respectively).

Impact of feed-in tariffs on electricity consumption

Abstract: The diffusion of renewable energy sources is an important policy issue for all countries. In particular, feed-in tariffs (FITs) are a major policy instrument used to diffuse renewable energy sources in developed countries. A few recent studies have found a rebound effect from the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. However, consumer behavior in relation to electricity consumption following the installation of solar PV systems is largely unknown. In particular, previous studies do not effectively reveal the FIT effect on electricity consumption. Therefore, we set up a model to measure this effect and conduct empirical analysis to confirm the theoretical contribution of the improved model. Our estimation results based on the matching method show that the FIT scheme increases the consumption of electricity purchased from electricity companies if the FIT rate exceeds the electricity price. This finding is important for better understanding the true cost-benefit of FITs.

Japan’s media fails its watchdog role: Lessons learned and unlearned from the 2011 earthquake and the Fukushima disaster:

Abstract: The Disaster and Media Research Group conducted for the first time, extensive, in-depth interviews with newsroom executives of 14 Japanese mainstream national media outlets (8 newspapers and wire s...

Consequences of war: Japan’s demographic transition and the marriage market

Abstract: This study explores the effects of imbalances in the sex ratio on both the quantity and the quality of children, with a focus on changes in intra-household bargaining power. We first present a theoretical model of intra-household bargaining in the presence of conflicting family goals within a couple, and show that male scarcity (a decrease in the male-to-female sex ratio) induces an increase in the number of children and a decrease in the quality of children. Second, using the impact of World War II on the sex ratio as a quasi-natural experiment, we establish empirically that the decrease in the male-to-female sex ratio in World War II contributed to a smaller decline in fertility and child mortality rates in postwar Japan. In particular, the fertility rate would have fallen by an additional 12% and the child mortality rate by an additional 13% between 1948 and 1970 absent the decrease in the sex ratio.

Conceptualising L’Space Olympique: Tokyo 2020 Olympic education in thought, production and action

Abstract: Perennial iterations of Olympic Games, and the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) contractual obligations upon host cities, have prompted development of wide-ranging educational initiatives. S...

Social punishment for breaching restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic*

Abstract: In response to the novel coronavirus outbreak, the Japanese government requested the temporary closure of businesses. Consequently, complying with restrictions came to be recognized as the social norm, and stores that continued with business as usual were seen as norm-breakers. This study empirically investigates costly punishment behavior for stores? violation of restrictions and how this behavior changes when a decision-maker receives information pertaining to contrasting norms, implicitly requiring the opposite response. By implementing joy-of-destruction minigames, we found that costly punishment behavior for norm-breakers was significantly stimulated (by approximately 11%) but not increased when additional information was provided. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Modeling of Machine Learning Projects Using ArchiMate

Abstract: In this study, we consider project models for machine learning-based service systems. We introduce the enterprise architecture (EA) modeling approach and represent these models by using the business layer elements, application layer elements, and motivation extensions defined in ArchiMate. Through a real project case, we demonstrate the relationships between the project models and discuss model use cases.

Method for Assessing the Applicability of AI Service Systems

Abstract: In this study, we consider the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to enterprise functions and evaluate the viability of the AI service system To assess applicability, we introduced conditions by modeling the business task and the AI service system by using the Enterprise Architecture approach Through investigation, we confirmed that the proposed conditions were appropriate to the target business domain to ensure that the AI service system is relevant

Enterprise Architecture-Based Project Assurance Model for the Proof-of-Concept of AI Service Systems

Abstract: This research considers the common understanding of proof-of-concept (PoC) projects developing AI service systems between business and IT divisions. The authors propose an enterprise architecture (EA)-based project assurance model for the PoC of AI service systems, and represented elements of the developed application, development processes, and project goals with relations in the model. The proposed model provides two views, the “Why-What-Who View” representing the relationships between goals, processes and actors, and “Who-What-How View” representing the relationships between actors, processes and applications. Through these views, this paper shows that project members can understand the development activities in which they are involved, and the impact or significance of each activity on the project, and the project goal is assured by executing each activity in the process. Through a case study the authors show that one can use the proposed model as a reference model when proposing and executing AI service system development projects.

Childcare Availability and the Choice of Childbirth Months in Japan

Abstract: This paper empirically explores Japanese child-bearing households’ choices of childbirth months and the problem of children waiting for available childcare services, which can hinder the continued employment of women. We estimate the effect of the ratio of children waiting for childcare services on the bias in the childbirth months. The empirical results show that, when the waiting-list for childcare service is longer, the child-bearing households select the childbirth month carefully considering the application to authorized childcare facilities. In areas with a large number of children on standby, childbirths tend to be selected more in spring/summer (April to September) and avoided during winter (January to March). Moreover, such tendencies are observed clearer among mothers in their 30s whose employment rate and childbirth rate are both rising. This suggests that expansion of childcare services is an urgent task in managing more women’s social participation and childbirth promotion.