This page uses Javascript. Please enable Javascript in your browser. Skip to Content Japanese English Chinese About RIETI Site Map Help Contact Discussion Papers Search Site Search Menu Research Areas Research Programs (FY2024-2028) Research Programs (FY2020-2023) Research Programs (FY2016-2019) Research Programs (FY2011-2015) Policy Research Domains (FY2006-2010) Projects Survey Fellows According to Title Alphabetical order RIETI Alumni Research/Policy Papers Discussion Papers (English) Discussion Papers (Japanese) Policy Discussion Papers (English) Policy Discussion Papers (Japanese) Technical Papers (English) Technical Papers (Japanese) Non Technical Summaries List of Articles in Journals Research Digest Discussion Papers Search Publications RIETI Books (English) RIETI Books (Japanese) History of Japan's Trade and Industry Policy Authors' Words Other Publications (English) Other Publications (Japanese) Events Symposiums Workshops BBL Seminars Archived Seminar Series Data JIP Database R-JIP Database CIP Database Industry-Specific Nominal and Real Effective Exchange Rates AMU and AMU Deviation Indicators JSTAR RIETI-TID RIETI FDI Database ICPA Project Links Articles Column Special Series Newspapers & Magazines Fellows' Works VoxEU Column From IZA Perspectives from Around the World Other Contents RIETI Report Policy Update Keizai Sangyo Journal (METI Journal) Research Areas Fellows Research/Policy Papers Publications Events Data Articles Site Map Technical Issues Coontact Discussion Papers Search Close HomeArticlesNewspapers & MagazinesFY2011Social Security as Viewed through Micro-data Social Security as Viewed through Micro-data Part 8: Childhood Circumstances Print SHIMIZUTANI Satoshi Consulting Fellow, RIETI Disparities among individuals in economic status (income and assets), health conditions, and cognitive abilities become more pronounced as people enter their middle years and beyond. Recent research has found statistical evidence showing that the environments in which individuals spent their early childhood have a substantial impact on their later lives.The Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), a panel survey of middle-aged and elderly individuals across continental European countries, developed a simple interview method to obtain individuals' life histories. It is designed in such a way to collect information concerning the early childhood environments in which the interviewees were raised and major incidents that occurred during those years. Specifically, types of data collected include: information on the respondents' childhood living environments such as the number of rooms per family member, number of books (other than newspapers, magazines, and textbooks) owned, and breadwinner's occupation as of when the respondents were 10 years old; information on the respondents' childhood school performance in language arts and mathematics relative to the average for their peers; and information on childhood health such as experience of long-term hospitalization and/or hunger and the number of diseases the respondents suffered.Many recent studies have shown not only that these various aspects of individuals' childhood environments have a linkage to the economic status, health conditions, and cognitive abilities in their middle and elderly years, but also that the degree of influence differs across countries. Furthermore, it has been pointed out that disparities among individuals may be passed down through generations as each person's early childhood environment depends very much on his or her parents.A series of panel surveys of middle-aged and elderly people are being conducted in various parts of the world in a vigorous effort to collect internationally comparable data and thereby examine the impact of childhood experiences and environments on overall life in the middle and elderly years. The Japanese Study of Aging and Retirement (JSTAR) survey is also designed in such a way that it is possible to analyze how individuals' lives in their middle and elderly years are influenced by the attributes of their parents and/or the environments in which they lived at the age of 15 years.Although people are vaguely aware that their lives in adulthood are influenced by their early childhood environments, several points need to be kept in mind. First, it is necessary to identify causal relationships. Although statistically significant correlations have been found between the way in which individuals spent their childhood—living environments and health conditions—and the state of their lives in their middle and elderly ages, it is extremely difficult to identify how, i.e., through what channel and to what extent, early childhood factors affect adulthood.Second, we must consider policy implications. If the impact of early childhood environments is significant, little room is left for policy interventions to change the lives of those who are already in their middle and elderly years. Some recent studies even suggest that the maternal environment in which a mother spends her pregnancy impacts the amount of lifetime income of the child to be born. In the first place, there is the question of whether the government can possibly intervene in people's early childhood environments. And even if it can, any effect of such interventions would be felt only in the remote future.Third, there is the question of how early childhood environments and health conditions should be measured. Those who are privileged (or underprivileged) in their middle and elderly years may want to say that was the case ever since their early childhood. In this respect, Japan may be able to contribute its knowledge to the rest of the world by utilizing information recorded in maternal and child health handbooks, such as the child's height and weight at birth.>> Original text in Japanese* Translated by RIETI from the original Japanese "Yasashii Keizaigaku" column in the September 21, 2011 issue of Nihon Keizai Shimbun. September 21, 2011 Print Article(s) by this author Future of Japan's Long-term Care Insurance Program September 2, 2013［RIETI Report］ Future of Japan's Long-term Care Insurance Program July 30, 2013［Column］ More Research of Price Expectations Needed Now: Essential in enabling Japan to end deflation May 18, 2010［Newspapers & Magazines］ Probing the Issue of Health Disparities: High correlation with income and education - Policies based on the premise of homogeneity should be reconsidered September 8, 2009［Newspapers & Magazines］ Bank Recapitalization in the West - Lessons from Japan February 4, 2009［Newspapers & Magazines］ Articles Column Special Series Newspapers & Magazines FY2024 FY2023 FY2022 FY2021 FY2020 FY2019 FY2018 FY2017 FY2016 FY2015 FY2014 FY2013 FY2012 FY2011 Social Security as Viewed through Micro-data FY2010 FY2009 FY2008 FY2007 FY2006 FY2005 FY2004 FY2003 FY2002 Fellows' Works VoxEU Column From IZA Perspectives from Around the World Other Contents RIETI Report Policy Update Keizai Sangyo Journal Communications Newsletter RSS Feed Facebook X YouTube Research Areas Research Programs (FY2024-2028) Research Programs (FY2020-2023) Research Programs (FY2016-2019) Research Programs (FY2011-2015) Policy Research Domains (FY2006-2010) Projects Survey Fellows Research/Policy Papers Discussion Papers (English) Discussion Papers (Japanese) Policy Discussion Papers (English) Policy Discussion Papers (Japanese) Technical Papers (English) Technical Papers (Japanese) Non Technical Summaries List of Articles in Journals Research Digest Discussion Papers Search Publications RIETI Books (English) RIETI Books (Japanese) History of Japan's Trade and Industry Policy Authors' Words Other Publications (English) Other Publications (Japanese) Events Symposiums Workshops BBL Seminars Archived Seminar Series Data JIP Database R-JIP Database CIP Database Industry-Specific Nominal and Real Effective Exchange Rates AMU and AMU Deviation Indicators JSTAR RIETI-TID RIETI FDI Database ICPA Project Links Articles Column Special Series Newspapers & Magazines Fellows' Works VoxEU Column From IZA Perspectives from Around the World Other Contents RIETI Report Policy Update Keizai Sangyo Journal (METI Journal) About RIETI Privacy Policy Site Policy Site Map Help Contact METI Web Site Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry, IAA (JCN 6010005005426)JCN: Japan Corporate Number Opinions expressed or implied on this website are solely those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the views of the Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).Titles, numbers, specific names, etc. on this website are as of the date of publication. In the case of reposting material from our website, contact us beforehand. Top