An Overview of Studies of the Low Non-Farming Wage Problem in the Rural Labor Market in Japan

Abstract

The discussion of the low wage problem has a long history, and there are a huge number of studies even if we were to consider only those that pertain to non-farming wages. Therefore, it is hard to trace all the discussion that has taken place. The aim of this article is to give an overview of the studies on the low non-farming wage problem. In addition, this article also introduces, based on data from the newest study, a fresh and relevant discussion of the low wage problem as it stands today. An overview of the actual wage levels indicate that non-farming wages of males meet their family budgets in the urbanized region, but fall to half these levels in the farming-oriented region. The outline of our discussion indicates that the family factor was paid more attention to in order to explain the low wage levels in the later discussions; moreover, the latest study points out that the different family norms have bond with the wage difference.