International comparisons of horizontal inequity in health have recently become one of the most pertinent issues in health economics. Japan has not been included in these international comparisons. This omission is rectified in this paper, which focuses on Japan. Moreover, we consider its...

This paper tries to calculate quality of life (QOL) from subjective health evaluations in Japan following Cutler and Richardson (1997) and Groot (2000). It then extends the model in several ways. Firstly, while previous studies define the domain of QOL in an ad hoc manner, i.e. excluding...

Despite the objection of the Bush administration to the U.S.’s ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, its entry into force has come to be realistic due to the Bonn Agreement in July. The purpose of this paper is first to survey the framework of the Protocol, and then to analyze the strategic...

Introduction -- The change in work arrangements in Denmark and Germany -- Regulatory convergence? -- Nonstandard work in Italy and Spain -- Nonstandard work arrangements in France and the United States -- The growth of nonstandard employment in Japan and the United States -- Employment choices...