Title: Some problems with the self-employed households in Japan: a descriptive study

Authors: Tatsuyoshi Masuda

Addresses: Department of Economics, Hokusei Gakuen University, 2–3–1, Oyachi Nishi Atsubetu ku, Sapporo 004–0042, Japan

Abstract: We identify some difficult problems with self-employment in Japan, focusing on some differentials between an employed and a self-employed household|s characteristics (i.e., the structure of the household, income, public pension and healthcare). Our explanatory study shows that the self-employed households have many household members, have higher working person ratios and contain elderly persons (those aged 65 and over). Their income level is not always high and is particularly lower in households without children and it is compensated by the family|s worker income and public pension, while they pay a higher private pension premium and also expend a large sum of money for healthcare. Furthermore, self-employed households take care of household members with more serious conditions and who need nursing care. The suggestions for the new research fields of Japanese self-employment are presented.

Keywords: self-employed households; employee household; income; savings; debt; pension premium; medical care; self-employment; Japan; healthcare.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2009.024377

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2009 Vol.8 No.2, pp.200 - 225

Published online: 02 Apr 2009 *

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