Unequal Access to Homeownership and Cumulative Disadvantage in Japan

Housing is an essential pillar of economic security throughout one's life course in Asset-based welfare states in Europe. Therefore, married women's labor force participation and shared home ownership have drastically increased. In contrast, the comparative study between the UK and Japan in 2004 revealed that Japanese women's housing equity has been less prevalent, and married women would finally obtain homeownership upon the death of a partner. Using the Japanese Life course Panel Survey by Institute of Social Science, the University of Tokyo, we examine the factors associated with housing equity. We found that 15 percent of married women own property. Our analysis shows that income and educational level influences their housing equity. The probability that women would negotiate with their husbands for shared homeownership is increased by having higher income or higher education, which improves women's bargaining power. In addition to this, gender attitude has a significant effect. Despite all this, the majority of women in Japan do not have homeownership. The cause of inequality is associated with civil law, the gender wage gap, and the housing finance system. The Japanese male breadwinner model still serves to justify unequal access to women's homeownership. Furthermore, the potential conflicts may be masked by family ideology. The late transition to homeownership is risky for their financial security in later life.

Acknowledgment This research was supported by KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Specially Promoted Research (Grant Numbers 25000001 and 18H05204) and Scientific Research (S)（Grant Numbers 18103003 and 22223005) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). The research support in conducting the panel surveys was obtained from the Institute of Social Science, University of Tokyo, and The Outsourcing, Inc. The permission to use the panel data is obtained from the Management Committee of the Japanese Life Course Panel Surveys.