Japan Society for the Promotion of Science:Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
Date (from‐to) : 2014/04 -2017/03
Author : HANAOKA Chie
Preferences are fundamental determinants of individual decision-making on behaviors. This research empirically examines the factors that affect the formation of preferences. I investigate three questions: First, do macroeconomic shocks experienced in early life affect preferences? Second, how do activities at home and school in early life affect the formation of preferences? Third, can the experience of negative shocks such as natural disasters affect preferences? To address these research questions, I use self-reported measures of preferences from a nationally representative survey in Japan. The results suggest that large economic shocks and activities at home and school experienced during one’s youth affect the formation of preferences. In addition, the experience of natural disasters affects preferences. Interestingly, only for men, one’s experience affects the formation of preferences and this finding is robust for all the three questions.