A theory of the value of children

This paper uses a non-standard value assumption—uncertainty reduction—to explain parenthood. We begin by reviewing the inadequacies of normative and standard rational choice explanations of shifts in fertility behavior. Then we propose a theory of the value of children based on the uncertainty-reduction assumption. Next we generate a range of hypotheses that follow both from this assumption and from a subsidiary assumption of marital solidarity enhancement. Finally, we explore the extent to which implications based on these new ideas are supported by the relevant empirical literature.     

“Prince Charming Syndrome?” Gender gap in preferences for defined contribution pensions in Japan

Using survey data collected by the Japan Institute of Life Insurance in 2002, this study finds that a significant gender gap existed in defined contribution (DC) pension knowledge among workers employed at small- to medium-sized private firms in Japan. Even with similar DC knowledge, however, men and women reveal different preferences for DC pensions, indicating that their perceptional responses may widely differ from actual behaviors. Apart from the knowledge gap, the result shows evidence of the Prince Charming Syndrome among female employees as a significant source of the gender gap in DC participation rates. Among corporate pension-covered employees, the gender difference in the efficacy of DC portability is a more significant gap-generating factor. DC tax advantage is particularly favored by pension-covered female employees over male counterparts, reducing the DC preference gap. No similar evidence is found for employees with no corporate pension coverage.     

Mind‐mindedness and self–other distinction: Contrasts between Japanese and British mothers’ speech samples

To elucidate cultural contrasts in children's family environments, we conducted in‐depth, direct comparisons of mind‐mindedness and self–other distinction from maternal speech. The study included 5‐min speech samples of 225 mothers from Japan (N = 111) and the U.K. (N = 114) talking about their 3‐ to 6‐year‐old children (including 11 sibling pairs, n = 236). Compared with Japanese mothers, British mothers spoke significantly more, gave a significantly higher proportion of child‐focused and mind‐related comments, and also showed a stronger self–other distinction. In addition, within each country, there was a positive relation between mothers’ references to children in the singular (as opposed to plural) form and their mind‐mindedness. Together, the current findings highlight cultural variations in maternal mind‐mindedness, explicit–implicit communication style, and self–other distinction, and also suggest further exploration of relations among them.     

CAN EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY EXPLAIN REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR IN THE CONTEMPORARY UNITED STATES?

Can evolutionary psychology explain human behavior in postindustrial societies? Critics point out that, contrary to its prediction, wealthy men in contemporary societies do not have more children than poor men. I replicate Pérusse's (1993) finding with a large, representative sample and demonstrate that, while they do not have more children, wealthy men nonetheless have more sex partners and copulate more frequently than poor men. They would therefore have achieved greater reproductive success in the ancestral environment without effective means of contraception.     

Social Capital and the Human Psyche: Why Is Social Life "Capital"?

In this article, we propose a revised definition of social capital, premised on the principles of evolutionary psychology. We define social capital as any feature of a social relationship that, directly or indirectly, confers reproductive benefits to a participant in that relationship. This definition grounds the construct of social capital in human nature by providing a basis for inferring the underlying motivations that humans may have in common, rather than leaving the matter of what humans use capital for unspoken. Discussions and empirical reviews are presented on the innateness of human sociability, sex differences in sociability, and psychological mechanisms that mediate sociability .     

Contingent valuation method can increase procedural justice

We hypothesized that the contingent valuation method (CVM) can enhance the procedural justice of policy formation as perceived by people generally, which in turn increases public acceptance of policy. In Study 1, a survey (n=484) asked whether respondents would accept a one-off tax, the purpose of which would be to protect the natural environment of Yakushima Island, Japan. In one condition, the respondents were told that the amount of the one-off tax was determined using the CVM. In a second condition, no such instruction was given. In Study 2, 55 subjects were asked to indicate their acceptance, or otherwise, of a one-off tax for the protection of the natural environment of Yakushima Island when the tax was determined using the CVM, and when the tax was determined using cost–benefit analysis. The data from the survey and the experiment confirmed the hypothesis that the CVM enhanced the perceived procedural justice and acceptance of the tax.     

College tuition payment and household consumption in Japan

Because tuition payment comprises a large proportion of expenses in households with children in universities, it causes large and clearly predictable changes in discretionary income in predetermined months. This study examines consumption smoothing for those households as an alternative test of the life-cycle/permanent income hypothesis, using the Japanese Family Income and Expenditure Survey. We show that a one yen decrease in discretionary income due to tuition payment is associated with 0.1–0.2 yen decrease in non-tuition spending in the month of tuition payment, showing that those households are not engaged in consumption smoothing.     

Safe sets in graphs: Graph classes and structural parameters

A safe set of a graph \(G=(V,E)\) is a non-empty subset S of V such that for every component A of G[S] and every component B of \(G[V {\setminus } S]\), we have \(|A| \ge |B|\) whenever there exists an edge of G between A and B. In this paper, we show that a minimum safe set can be found in polynomial time for trees. We then further extend the result and present polynomial-time algorithms for graphs of bounded treewidth, and also for interval graphs. We also study the parameterized complexity. We show that the problem is fixed-parameter tractable when parameterized by the solution size. Furthermore, we show that this parameter lies between the tree-depth and the vertex cover number. We then conclude the paper by showing hardness for split graphs and planar graphs.     

Minimal Basis for a Connected Markov Chain over 3 × 3 ×K Contingency Tables with Fixed Two-Dimensional Marginals

This paper considers a connected Markov chain for sampling 3 × 3 ×K contingency tables having fixed two‐dimensional marginal totals. Such sampling arises in performing various tests of the hypothesis of no three‐factor interactions. A Markov chain algorithm is a valuable tool for evaluating P‐values, especially for sparse datasets where large‐sample theory does not work well. To construct a connected Markov chain over high‐dimensional contingency tables with fixed marginals, algebraic algorithms have been proposed. These algorithms involve computations in polynomial rings using Gröbner bases. However, algorithms based on Gröbner bases do not incorporate symmetry among variables and are very time‐consuming when the contingency tables are large. We construct a minimal basis for a connected Markov chain over 3 × 3 ×K contingency tables. The minimal basis is unique. Some numerical examples illustrate the practicality of our algorithms.