Kuroda Lab
Exploring Labor Markets from Work Perspectives: Enhancing Well-being and Sustainable Growth
Working towards assisting in addressing various challenges in the labor market.
About Me
Sachiko KURODA
Professor of Economics
Faculty of Education and Integrated Arts and Sciences, Waseda University
Area of Interest : Labor Economics, Applied Microeconomics, Personnel Economics
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研究プロジェクト
テーマの概要
I conduct research focusing on work-related issues, particularly the impact of work patterns on health and productivity. Questions I explore include: How many hours do Japanese people work on average? Why is there a culture of long working hours in Japan? Is long working hours detrimental to health? Does improved health lead to increased productivity? Does higher work engagement correlate with higher productivity? Does better sleep quality lead to increased productivity? Do companies practicing health management experience higher productivity? Is telework beneficial or detrimental to the health and productivity of workers? What are the realities of gig work, a new emerging work style? Why is it difficult for wages to decrease, and why do they often remain stagnant? There are numerous questions surrounding the labor market. I aim to address each of these issues systematically, contributing to the resolution of various challenges in Japan's labor market.
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Research Topics
01
Research on Work Hours and Work Patterns
long work hours / time allocation / working style
In an era of diversifying work patterns, questions about when, where, and for how long we work have become increasingly relevant. Are efforts to reduce long working hours making progress? How much have working hours shifted throughout the day? And what impact are new work styles having on our daily lives and time allocation? This project delves into studying how people allocate and adapt their time in response to changing work dynamics.
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02
Research on the Impact of Work Patterns on Health and Productivity
Work Patterns / Health / Productivity
Increasingly, as the range of work options expands, there's ongoing exploration worldwide into which work practices can simultaneously enhance worker health and well-being, maximize corporate profits, and address societal challenges. This research project investigates the relationship between work patterns and health/productivity, utilizing longitudinal data tracking the same employees, official statistics. Furthermore, I engage in collaborative research with multiple companies, integrating human resources, attendance, and health data with various surveys, as well as conducting analyses using banking data. Through this comprehensive approach, I aim to elucidate the connections between work arrangements and health/productivity outcomes.
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03
Research on Biological Sex differences
Women's Health and Wellbeing
Inherently, the physiology of men and women differs fundamentally. For instance, women not only face various life events such as pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, and menopause during their reproductive years but are also subjected to daily fluctuations in health due to hormonal changes. It is said that regardless of the time frame—short, medium, or long term—women experience greater fluctuations in health compared to men. Without turning a blind eye to these biological differences between genders, this research aims to foster a society where everyone can work comfortably by understanding each other's differences.
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04 Others
In addition, I have conducted research on topics including 'wage rigidity,' 'unemployment,' 'price fluctuations,' 'employment protection legislations,' 'labor market mobility,' and ' foreign exchange intervention interventions'.
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