Childbirth and Housework in East Asia
MIZUOCHI, Masaaki (Nanzan University)
mizuochi@nanzan-u.ac.jp

1. Introduction
It is crucial to pay attention to the share of housework between husband and wife when
discussing the relationship between declining birthrate and women’s work. Japanesehusbands do not so much contribute to housework even they have very young child.
According to the Cabinet Office (2015), Japanese husbands who have child under the ageof six contribute to housework only one hour and seven minutes per day. This is half or
one-third of that of husbands in European countries and the United States. The low
contribution to housework by husbands has been pointed out as one of the causes of thedeclining birthrate in Japan. For example, an increase in husband’s contribution tohousework has a positive impact on fertility (Cooke 2009; Mizuochi 2010, 2011; Nagaseand Brinton 2017).
This study uses three sets of panel data collected in Japan, China (Beijing), and Korea(Seoul) to investigate the effect of childbirth on couple’s contribution to housework. In
paticular, we examines the relationship between relative resource (income or paid worktime) before childbirth and relative increase in housework by childbirth.
2. Data
The data used in the study are “Beijing Panel Survey on Gender, Work and Family Life(2004-2007)” for China and “Seoul Panel Survey on Work, Family and Gender(2003/2004-2007)” for Korea, both were conducted by Ochanomizu University. For theanalysis of Japan, we use “Keio Household Panel Survey (2005-2009)” conducted byKeio University.
Our subjects of analysis are married male and female who are under the age of 44 andhave no child at the first observation.
3. Estimation strategy
For the purpose of this study, we conduct regression analysis. Our dependent variable isthe housework time (measured in minutes per day) which is the sum of the time forhousehold chores and childcare. The independent variables are childbirth, respondent’s
and spouse’s paid work time, household income, and respondent’s age.

As an estimation method, the fixed-effect estimation is applied to control the individual
effect caused by panel data structure. Hausman test reveals that the fixed-effect estimation
is more valid compared to the pooled-ols estimation.
We firstly estimate the following equation using male sample and then obtain thecoeffecient of childbirth for husband’sfor each country.

Next, we estimate the same equation using female sample and obtain the coeffecient ofchildbirth for wife
for each country. Finaly, we calculate the relative increase inhousework of wife/and compare it with wife’s income (or paid work time)share before childbirth for each country.
4. Results
The results obtained so far are as follows. First, childbirth increases both husband’s andwife’s housework time in all three countries. Second, wife’s relative increase inhousework by childbirth is largest in Japan: 9.9 for Japan, 2.4 for China, and 2.6 for Korea.
Third, relative resource before childbirth and relative increase in housework is negativelyrelated.
References
Cabinet Office, 2015. Declining Birthrate White Paper 2015, Japan: Nikkei Printing. (inJapanese)
Cooke, L. P., 2009. “Gender Equality and Fertility in Italy and Spain,” Journal of Social
Policy 38(1): 123-140.
Mizuochi, M., 2010. “Husband’s Childcare and Additional Childbirth: A Comparative
Analysis of Five Developed Countries,” Journal of Population Studies, 46: 1-13. (inJapanese)
Mizuochi, M., 2011. “Fertility and Use of Childbirth-Related Leave by Father,” Quarterlyof Social Security Research, 46(4): 403-413. (in Japanese)
Nagase, N. and M Brinton, 2017. “The Gender Division of Labor and Second Births:
Labor Market Institution and Fertility in Japan,” Demographic Research 36: 339-370.