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A Comparison of the Wage Structure between the Public and Private Sectors in Japan

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  • Masayuki Morikawa
Abstract
This paper compares the wage structure between the public and private sectors in Japan by using a large microdata set covering public and private sector employees. Rather than comparing overall wage levels, we examine the differences in relative wages by gender, age, education, and region. According to the estimation of wage functions, wage gaps by gender and educational attainment are smaller in the public sector than in private companies. The public sector’s age-wage profile is steeper than that of the private sector. Public sector wages are more compressed; the wages are relatively higher at the lower end of the wage distribution and relatively lower at the higher end. The regional wage differential is smaller in the public sector. As a result, the wage level of public sector workers is relatively higher in rural regions and relatively lower in large metropolitan regions. To ensure the efficient provision of public services, it is inappropriate to compare only average wages. We should carefully observe the differences in wage structure by individual characteristics and by region.

Suggested Citation

  • Masayuki Morikawa, 2014. "A Comparison of the Wage Structure between the Public and Private Sectors in Japan," AJRC Working Papers 1407, Australia-Japan Research Centre, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.
    • Handle: RePEc:csg:ajrcwp:1407
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    File URL: https://crawford.anu.edu.au/pdf/ajrc/wpapers/2014/201407.pdf
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    2. Patrick Minford & Yi Wang & Peng Zhou, 2020. "Resolving the public-sector wage premium puzzle by indirect inference," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(7), pages 726-741, February.
    3. Jørn Rattsø & Hildegunn E.Stokke, 2018. "Dynamic private-public wage gap: Return to experience, education level and cit effect," Working Paper Series 17518, Department of Economics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
    4. Rattsø, Jørn & Stokke, Hildegunn E., 2020. "Private-public wage gap and return to experience: Role of geography, gender and education," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    5. Shahen, Mostafa E. & Kotani, Koji & Kakinaka, Makoto & Managi, Shunsuke, 2020. "Wage and labor mobility between public, formal private and informal private sectors in a developing country," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 101-113.
    6. Dũng Tuấn Nguyễn & Takeshi Miyazaki, 2023. "Strategic interaction among Japanese municipalities regarding public servant salary levels," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 71(2), pages 463-485, October.
    7. Ferreira, Pedro Cavalcanti & Parente, Rafael Machado, 2018. "Social security reform, retirement and occupational behavior," FGV EPGE Economics Working Papers (Ensaios Economicos da EPGE) 803, EPGE Brazilian School of Economics and Finance - FGV EPGE (Brazil).
    8. Ding Li & María de los Ángeles Pérez-Sánchez & Shun Yi & Eduardo Parra-Lopez & Naipeng (Tom) Bu, 2021. "Establishing a Sustainable Labor Market in Developing Countries: A Perspective of Generational Differences in Household Wage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-18, October.
    9. Paweł Strawiński & Agnieszka Skierska, 2016. "Public–private gap along the wage distribution in Poland," Ekonomia journal, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw, vol. 44.
    10. Su, Zhi-fang & Ma, Xiao-xiang & Xiao, Wei & Chen, Mei-Yuan, 2020. "Marginal effects of public employment on unconditional distribution of wage income in China," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    11. Cindy Biesenbeek & Siemen Werff, 2019. "Public–Private Wage Differentials: Evidence from The Netherlands," De Economist, Springer, vol. 167(1), pages 23-43, March.
    12. MORIKAWA Masayuki, 2017. "Occupational Licenses and Labor Market Outcomes," Discussion papers 17078, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J45 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Public Sector Labor Markets
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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