Changes in Population Movements and Employment after the Great East Japan Earthquake
Author: Fang HE
Date: 2015/3
No: DPDP2015-005
JEL Classification codes: J1, J6
Language: English
[ Abstract / Highlights ]
This paper examines the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake on population movements and employment. To capture changes over time, we use government statistics and household panel data, which contain detailed demographic and economic information from before and after the earthquake. Our results show that after the earthquake, the three disaster-stricken prefectures experienced population loss through emigration; this caused labor market shortages. Negative impacts on individual employment status were mainly observed immediately after the earthquake. Individuals with lower incomes were found to be at higher risk of losing their jobs, whereas young individuals had higher probabilities of being newly hired.
This paper examines the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake on population movements and employment. To capture changes over time, we use government statistics and household panel data, which contain detailed demographic and economic information from before and after the earthquake. Our results show that after the earthquake, the three disaster-stricken prefectures experienced population loss through emigration; this caused labor market shortages. Negative impacts on individual employment status were mainly observed immediately after the earthquake. Individuals with lower incomes were found to be at higher risk of losing their jobs, whereas young individuals had higher probabilities of being newly hired.