Trust and Happiness : Comparative Study Before and After the Great East Japan Earthquake

The positive relationship between trust and happiness has been demonstrated by the literature. However, it is not clear how much this relationship depends on environmental conditions. The Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 is considered one of the most catastrophic events in human history. This disaster caused not only physical damage for Japanese people, but also perceived damage. Using individual-level panel data from Japan covering the period 2009–2012, this paper attempts to probe how the relationship between trust and happiness was influenced by the Great East Japan Earthquake by comparing the same individuals before and after the earthquake. A fixed-effects estimation showed that there is a statistically well-determined positive relationship between trust and happiness and this relationship was strengthened by disaster, especially for residents in the damaged area. We argue that social trust is a substitute for formal institutions and markets, which mitigates the effect of disaster-related shock on psychological conditions such as happiness. Therefore, a trustful society is invulnerable to a gigantic disaster

Organization Adjustments, Job Training and Productivity: Evidence from Japanese Automobile Makers

This paper considers the demand for job training and its interaction with organization adjustments through rotation within a team and relocation across teams in response to demand and supply shocks. The analysis includes estimations of determinants of on-the-job training, and of how much such training contributes to improvements in individual productivity. We employ original assembler survey data from two Japanese automobile makers. We also investigate effects of the characteristics of workplace practices, including the behavior of foremen, on the incentives for individual assemblers to seek job training and productivity improvements.

Effect of Major Disasters on Geographical Mobility Intentions : The Case of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident

This paper uses panel data from Japan to explore how the Great East Japan Earthquake influenced the intention to leave one’s place of residence by comparing the same individuals’ responses before and after the earthquake. Controlling for unobserved individual fixed effects and various individual characteristics, we found that (1) people were more willing to leave their place of residence after the disaster when they lived nearer to Fukushima, (2) the effect of the disaster on intention to leave was reinforced when respondents had a small child, and (3) after dividing sample by gender, such tendencies were observed among women but not among men. From the last finding, we conclude that differences between men and women in perceived risk lead to differences in mobility intentions

Smokers, Smoking Deprivation, and Time Discounting

This paper investigates whether smokers exhibit greater time discounting than non-smokers, and how short-term nicotine deprivation affects time discounting. A unique feature of our experiment is that our subjects receive rewards not only of money, but also of actual tobacco. This is done in order to elicit smokersf true preferences. Smokers are more impatient than non-smokers, consistent with previous studies. Additionally, nicotine deprivation makes smokers even more impatient. These results suggest that nicotine concentration has different effects on time preferences in the short and long runs.

Smokers, Smoking Deprivation, and Time Discounting

This paper investigates whether smokers exhibit greater time discounting thannon-smokers, and how short-term nicotine deprivation affects time discounting. Aunique feature of our experiment is that our subjects receive rewards not only of money,but also of actual tobacco. This is done in order to elicit smokers' true preferences.Smokers are more impatient than non-smokers, consistent with previous studies.Additionally, nicotine deprivation makes smokers even more impatient. These resultssuggest that nicotine concentration has different effects on time preferences in the shortand long runs