arXiv subjects

Fumio Ohtake

Publications and source records attributed to Fumio Ohtake.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Time Preference and Tax Burden Acceptance: Asymmetric Effects on Intertemporal and Contemporaneous Redistribution

This paper examines the extent to which individual time preferences are associated with the willingness to accept different tax burdens. The first is an intertemporal redistribution in which a current consumption tax increase is exchanged for a proportional future reduction. The second is a contemporaneous redistribution where the tax burden borne by individuals is transferred directly to those with significantly lower incomes than their own. Using a cross-sectional online survey of approximately 12,000 observations, we found through various regression analyses that higher time preference is negatively associated with acceptance in both domains. Crucially, the negative coefficient is larger in absolute value for contemporaneous redistribution than for the intertemporal one.

econ.GN↗

arXiv2026

Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Altered the Traditional View about Women's Active Work?

This study investigates how the view about women's active work changed after the outbreak of the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) disease. We use individual-level panel data from 2016 to 2024 that cover the period before and after the pandemic. The major findings are as follows: (1) men were more likely to have a positive view than women before COVID-19, whereas women became more likely to have a positive view compared to men after COVID-19; (2) both of men and women were more likely to have a positive view after COVID-19; (3) regardless of the respondents' genders, before COVID-19, older people were less likely to have a positive view; after the COVID-19 outbreak, they became more likely to have a positive view; and (4) married men became more likely to have positive view after COVID-19.

econ.GN↗

arXiv2026

The Widening Gap in Tax Attitudes: Role of Government Trust in the post COVID-19 period

This study investigates shifts in acceptable tax rate for reducing inequality during the COVID-19 pandemic using Japanese data. We find a transition from norm-based, unconditional support for redistribution to conditional altruism. Before the pandemic, support remained high and independent of institutional trust. The pandemic generated an overall decline in altruistic attitudes while increasing their dependence on trust in government, particularly among high-income individuals. This "widening gap" implies that in post-crisis societies, the social contract is no longer anchored in stable social norms but increasingly relies on institutional trust to sustain income redistribution from the rich to the poor.

econ.GN↗

arXiv2026

Preference for redistribution and institutional trust: Comparison before and after COVID-19

Using an individual-level panel dataset from Japan covering the period 2016-2024, we examined how the COVID-19 pandemic, as an unanticipated public crisis, affected preferences for income redistribution. Furthermore, we investigated how the association between redistribution preferences and trust in government changed before and after COVID-19. The major findings are as follows: (1) individuals in the high-income group are less likely to prefer redistribution after COVID-19 than before it; (2) the degree of decline in redistribution preference is lower when trust in government is higher; and (3) generalised trust and reciprocity did not influence the decline in preference.

econ.GN↗

arXiv2026

Sleep and redistribution preferences: Considering allowable tax rates

This study explored the association between sleep duration and redistribution preferences. Using an online survey, we propose a hypothetical situation in which the tax paid directly by respondents is redistributed to those earning less than one-fifth of the respondents' income. Next, we asked about the allowable tax rates. We found the following through Tobit and ordered logit regression estimations: (1) The relationship between sleep hours and the allowable tax rate showed an inverted U-shape, where the optimal amount of sleep led to the highest allowable tax rate. (2) High-quality sleep was more positively correlated with the allowable tax rate than was low-quality sleep when the sleep quantity was the same. (3) Sleep hours were more significantly and positively correlated with the allowable tax rate in the high-income group than in the low-income group. (4) Assuming that twice the amount of tax paid goes to those with lower income, individuals who previously preferred a higher tax rate were more likely to increase the allowable tax rate.

econ.GN↗

arXiv2024

Views about ChatGPT: Are human decision making and human learning necessary?

Using individual-level survey data from 2024, this study investigated how respondent characteristics are associated with a subjective view of generative artificial intelligence (GAI). We asked 14 questions concerning respondents view about GAI, such as general view, faulty GAI, autonomous GEI, GAI replacing humans, and importance of human learning. Regression analysis based on the ordered logit model revealed that: (1) In some cases, the results of smartphone and computer usage times differed. Smartphone usage time was negatively correlated with the importance of human learning, whereas computer usage was not negatively correlated. (2) Managers and ordinary businesspeople have positive views of GAI. However, managers do not show a positive view about GAI being responsible for human decision making. (3) Teachers generally have a negative view about GAI replacing humans and no need of learning. They do not have negative views about GAI producing documents unless GAI is faulty. (4) Medical industry workers positively view GAI if it operates following their direction. However, they do not agree with the view that GAI replaces humans, and that human learning is unnecessary. (5) Females are less likely than men to have a positive view of GAI. In summary, views about GAI vary widely by the individual characteristics and condition of GAI, and by the question set.

econ.GN↗

arXiv2023

Family Structure, Gender and Subjective Well-being: Effect of Child ren before and after COVID 19 in Japan

Grandparents were anticipated to participated in grand-rearing. The COVID-19 pandemic had detached grandparents from rearing grandchildren. The research questions of this study were as follows: How does the change in family relations impact the well-being (SWB) of grandparents and parents? We examined how family structure influenced subjective SWB before and after COVID-19. We focused on the effects of children, grandchildren, and their gender on grandparents and parents. We found that compared with the happiness level before COVID-19, (1) granddaughters increased their grandmothers SWB after COVID-19, (2) both daughters and sons reduced their fathers SWB after COVID-19, whereas neither daughters nor sons changed their mothers SWB, and (3) the negative effect of sons reduced substantially if their fathers had younger brothers. Learning from interactions with younger brothers in childhood, fathers could avoid the deterioration of relationships with their sons, even when unexpected events possibly changed the lifestyle of the family and their relationship.

econ.GN↗

arXiv2023

Would Monetary Incentives to COVID-19 vaccination reduce motivation?

Some people did not get the COVID-19 vaccine even though it was offered at no cost. A monetary incentive might lead people to vaccinate, although existing studies have provided different findings about this effect. We investigate how monetary incentives differ according to individual characteristics. Using panel data with online experiments, we found that (1) subsidies reduced vaccine intention but increased it after controlling heterogeneity; (2) the stronger the social image against the vaccination, the lower the monetary incentive; and (3) persistently unvaccinated people would intend to be vaccinated only if a large subsidy was provided.

econ.GN↗

arXiv2023

Surname Order and Revaccination Intentions: The Effect of Mixed-Gender Lists on Gender Differences during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study probes the effects of Japan's traditional alphabetical surname-based call system on students' experiences and long-term behavior. It reveals that early listed surnames enhance cognitive and non-cognitive skill development. The adoption of mixed-gender lists since the 1980s has amplified this effect, particularly for females. Furthermore, the study uncovers a strong correlation between childhood surname order and individuals' intention for COVID-19 revaccination, while changes in adulthood surnames do not exhibit the same influence. The implications for societal behaviors and policy are substantial and wide-ranging.

econ.GN↗

arXiv2023

The effect of primary school education on preventive behaviours during COVID-19 in Japan

Education plays a critical role on promoting preventive behaviours against the spread of pandemics. In Japan, hand-washing education in primary schools was positively correlated with preventive behaviours against COVID-19 transmission for adults in 2020 during the early stages of COVID-19 [1]. The following year, the Tokyo Olympics were held in Japan, and a state of emergency was declared several times. Public perceptions of and risks associated with the pandemic changed drastically with the emergence of COVID-19 vaccines. We re-examine whether effect of hand-washing education on preventive behaviours persisted by covering a longer period of the COVID-19 pandemic than previous studies. 26 surveys were conducted nearly once a month for 30 months from March 2020 (the early stage of COVID-19) to September 2022 in Japan. By corresponding with the same individuals across surveys, we comprehensively gathered data on preventive behaviours during this period. In addition, we asked about hand-washing education they had received in their primary school. We used the data to investigate how and the degree to which school education is associated with pandemic mitigating preventive behaviours. We found that hand-washing education in primary school is positively associated with behaviours such as hand washing and mask wearing as a COVID-19 preventive measure, but not related to staying at home. We observed a statistically significant difference in hand washing between adults who received childhood hand-washing education and those who did not. This difference persisted throughout the study period. In comparison, the difference in mask wearing between the two groups was smaller, but still statistically significant. Furthermore, there was no difference in staying at home between them.

econ.GN↗

arXiv2023

The COVID-19 vaccination, preventive behaviors and pro-social motivation: panel data analysis from Japan

The COVID-19 vaccine reduces infection risk: even if one contracts COVID-19, the probability of complications like death or hospitalization is lower. However, vaccination may prompt people to decrease preventive behaviors, such as staying indoors, handwashing, and wearing a mask. Thereby, if vaccinated people pursue only their self-interest, the vaccine's effect may be lower than expected. However, if vaccinated people are pro-social (motivated toward benefit for the whole society), they might maintain preventive behaviors to reduce the spread of infection.

econ.GN↗

arXiv2022

Effect of the COVID-19 vaccine on preventive behaviors: Evidence from Japan

Vaccination against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a key measure to reduce the probability of getting infected with the disease. Accordingly, this might significantly change an individuals perception and decision-making in daily life. For instance, it is predicted that with widespread vaccination, individuals will exhibit less rigid preventive behaviors, such as staying at home, frequently washing hands, and wearing a mask. We observed the same individuals on a monthly basis for 18 months, from March 2020 (the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic) to September 2021, in Japan to independently construct large sample panel data (N=54,007). Using the data, we compare the individuals preventive behaviors before and after they got vaccinated; additionally, we compare their behaviors with those individuals who did not get vaccinated. Furthermore, we compare the effect of vaccination on the individuals less than or equal to 40 years of age with those greater than 40 years old. The major findings determined after controlling for individual characteristics using the fixed effects model and various factors are as follows. First, as opposed to the prediction, based on the whole sample, the vaccinated people were observed to stay at home and did not change their habits of frequently washing hands and wearing a mask. Second, using the sub-sample of individuals aged equal to or below 40, we find that the vaccinated people are more likely to go out. Third, the results obtained using a sample comprising people aged over 40 are similar to those obtained using the whole sample. Preventive behaviors are affecting oneself and generating externalities on others during this pandemic. Informal social norms motivate people to increase or maintain preventive behaviors even after being vaccinated in societies where such behaviors are not enforced.

econ.GN↗

arXiv2022

Gender differences of the effect of vaccination on perceptions of COVID-19 and mental health in Japan

Vaccination has been promoted to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Vaccination is expected to reduce the probability of and alleviate the seriousness of COVID-19 infection. Accordingly, this might significantly change an individuals subjective well-being and mental health. However, it is unknown how vaccinated people perceive the effectiveness of COVID-19 and how their subjective well-being and mental health change after vaccination. We thus observed the same individuals on a monthly basis from March 2020 to September 2021 in all parts of Japan. Then, large sample panel data (N=54,007) were independently constructed. Using the data, we compared the individuals perceptions of COVID-19, subjective well-being, and mental health before and after vaccination. Furthermore, we compared the effect of vaccination on the perceptions of COVID-19 and mental health for females and males. We used the fixed-effects model to control for individual time-invariant characteristics. The major findings were as follows: First, the vaccinated people perceived the probability of getting infected and the seriousness of COVID-19 to be lower than before vaccination. This was observed not only when we used the whole sample, but also when we used sub-samples. Second, using the whole sample, subjective well-being and mental health improved. The same results were also observed using the sub-sample of females, whereas the improvements were not observed using a sub-sample of males.

econ.GN↗