2012 | Press Release
Improvements to methodology used by Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare to calculate the total fertility rate (TFR) as shown by the rising and or leveling off of the TFR in most prefectures as shown in 2011 TFR Tables
Recently, it has been pointed out that it is impossible to compare the 2010 TFR and 2011 TFR for every prefecture, as released by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare due to the differences in the methods for calculation.
A research group led by Professor Yoshida of Graduate School of Economics and Management, Tohoku University calculated the TFR for 2011 using an improved calculation method that addresses the issues raised in Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare report.
According to the new markers, from 2010 to 2011, the official value showed a decline in the TFR of 37 prefectures but in reality, the TFR increased or leveled off in 39 prefectures.
[Contact]
Professor Hiroshi Yoshida
Graduate School of Economics and Management, Tohoku University
E-mail: hyoshida*econ.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)
TEL：+81-22-795-6292
Doctoral Student Norio Ishii
Graduate School of Economics and Management, Tohoku University
E-mail: b1ed1504*student.econ.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)