著者

山本 信一 井上 麻央

出版者

生活経済学会

雑誌

生活経済学研究 (ISSN:13417347)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.41, pp.55-64, 2015

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Much research has analyzed the relationship between class size and scholastic aptitude. Specifically, studies have focused on whether or not reducing class size contributes to improving children's scholastic aptitude. Not all research shows such an impact, with some studies showing no positive effect. These inconsistent results suggest that other factors besides class size have a major influence on scholastic aptitude. This paper not only focuses on class size but also examines the multicollinearity of select factors considered economically relevant. Data on the percentage of correct answers (by third grade public middle school students, from 2007 to 2010) by prefecture obtained from the National Survey of Scholastic Aptitude and Learning Environment were used as the dependent variable. Results of all panel data models used in the paper showed that students in smaller classes tended to answer a higher percentage of answers correctly as compared to their counterparts in larger classes. Moreover, the results clearly suggested that this effect was more pronounced for applied basic knowledge skills in mathematics. The coefficient for the household learning rate used as an explanatory variable was found to be negative, indicating that prefectures with lower levels of scholastic aptitude among public middle schools tend to have more education-oriented households that invest in education outside of school.

著者

山本 信一 井上 麻央 米山 高生

出版者

生活経済学会

雑誌

生活経済学研究 (ISSN:13417347)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.45, pp.53-64, 2017 (Released:2017-09-30)

参考文献数

6

被引用文献数

5

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The aging population has resulted in the percentage of GDP allocated to healthcare costs reaching about 10%, and further increases are expected. To manage this issue, the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare is attempting to improve the population's lifestyle and to moderate healthcare cost increases by conducting medical checkups and providing health guidance for lifestyle improvements. The study data comprise medical prescriptions and medical examinations of 24,725 people who have developed diabetes and 13,453 people who have developed high blood pressure (data from the Japan Medical Data Center). Based on a multiple regression analysis, we compare people with good lifestyle habits and people with bad lifestyle habits to examine how the increases in their healthcare costs changed as a result of their diagnoses. For people who developed diabetes, those who properly controlled their BMI and LDL cholesterol levels, refrained from smoking and drinking, and exercised regularly (i.e., practiced good lifestyle habits) were able to maintain satisfactory medical examination results (diabetes). Based on these results, we prove statistically that the increase in healthcare costs is less for people who keep good lifestyle habits, even if they develop diabetes. Similarly, people who developed high blood pressure and practiced good lifestyle habits were able to maintain satisfactory medical examination results (high blood pressure). Again, the increase in the healthcare costs for this group was less, even if they developed high blood pressure, although, in this case, exercising regularly was not a relevant factor.