Descriptive Statistical Analysis of the First and Second Japan Household Panel Survey Supplementary Modules on COVID-19
In response to the global spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, Japanese government requested that elementary, junior high, and senior high schools be closed from March 2020, and in April, a state of emergency was declared, and economic activities have been negatively affected by the request for closure of the restaurant industry. Against this backdrop, the regular survey of Japan Household Panel Survey (JHPS2020) is being conducted at the end of January 2020, the first supplementary module in late May, and the second supplementary survey in mid-October 2020 for the subjects of the Japan Household Panel Survey. This paper examines the characteristics of the respondents to these three surveys and provides an overview of the changes in the economic and social conditions of the survey respondents and households during this period. Compared to the JHPS2020, more respondents to the special survey tended to be 60 years old or older, in two-person households, married, female, housebound/job-seeking, owner-occupied, and living in large cities. Comparing the results of these three surveys, household income decreased by about 30,000 yen in September compared to February and April, and income from work decreased by about 10,000 yen in September for women. Other findings included a decrease in commuting time during the declaration of a state of emergency, an increase in telecommuting, the impact of school closures on children, and an increase in mental stress.
