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Shinsei Bank Ltd on Monday announced the release of the “30 Year White Paper on the Salarymen’s Pocket Money Survey,” a compilation and analysis of data gathered from a survey on Japanese male workers’ pocket money that has been continuing since 1979.
The Salarymen’s Pocket Money Survey was launched in 1979 by (then) Lake KK, and has been conducted almost every year since for over 30 years. Usually completed before the payment of summer bonuses each year, the survey examines the financial situation of salarymen in their 20s to 50s, including pay rises and pocket money, to delineate the changes in Japanese values over time. In recent years, the survey has also included research on female workers, and part-time and temporary workers in addition to the Japanese male worker, the original subject of the survey.
The survey itself is unique in Japan, where there is no comparable study that has been conducted consistently for over 30 years.
Main findings
Japanese salarymen’s average monthly pocket money rose in tandem with economic and average monthly wage growth to peak at the height of the Japanese bubble. Thereafter, pocket money declined more rapidly than wages to hit an all-time low, amidst a back drop of intensifying deflation
In a reversal of fates, 20-something salarymen have overtaken their 50-something colleagues to become the age group receiving the highest amount of pocket money. Married salarymen with children are cutting back to maintain their standard of living, as they typically receive around 15,000 yen less pocket money than their unmarried peers
Are leisurely lunches a thing of the past? The average amount of money spent on lunch has fallen to the same level as 30 years ago, while time spent eating lunch has shrunk by one third over the same span of time
Salarymen eat out on average less than once per week, as the frequency of dining out has halved compared to the peak recorded in 2001. Salarymen are cutting back on after-work dining, while “drinking at home” is becoming the norm
The tricks that salarymen use to eke out their pocket money have changed with the times; in the past, they cut back on taxi fares, now they are even taking flasks to work. And is securing a second income becoming a no-brainer?!
© Japan Today
15 Comments
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saidani
These are the results of allowing the economy to be centrally planned by politicians with no business experience, lured by special interests, and whose fallback strategy is to buy votes with corporate and private welfare. Who would've thought that system wouldn't work?
scoobydoo
This is a sign of the failing economy and hiden inflation that has been going on for a very long time. The worst is yet to come. Get ready.
theeastisred
'Pocket money' is what children receive. The term is not used in the adult world in English.
Alan
The pocket money custom may seem odd and demeaning to working men, but Japanese men I have spoken to were equally horrified by the thought of running their household finances personally. They preferred to have a set amount of money that they could spend on themselves in good conscience, knowing that their wives were paying the mortgage and the electricity bill and buying the groceries.
What interests me is the fact that this survey was carried out by a company that specializes in personal loans.
saidani
theeastisred Sep. 25, 2012 - 02:01PM JST
No slur intended but you must be a Brit. It's fairly common in the US both as money given to children and also an adult's weekly/monthly self-allowance (for those who follow a budget, like many/most Japanese)
theeastisred
Saidani,
I stand corrected!
cleo
Why on earth would 'you must be a Brit' be a slur? The very suggestion that it might be a slur, is in itself a slur.
I'm British and I see nothing wrong in the use of the term 'pocket money' . It's a perfectly legitimate term to describe the money an individual is free to spend as they please, separate from household finances and other 'spoken for' expenses.
Nessie
Did they correct for deflation?
davestrousers
Yesterday's ft.com article on this has this written up in a coherent way with actual figures and information: http://on.ft.com/RcVqu3
So basically wages have fallen 15% from their peak whereas personal disposable income has fallen by half. From what I've heard salaryman spending on entertainment, drinking etc. was almost obscene when wages were at their peak. You can now get a jug of nama beer for under 300 yen all over Tokyo. I wasn't here in the early 90s... what was it then?
Nessie
Thanks, Davet.
saidani
cleo Sep. 25, 2012 - 02:19PM JST
Because some Brits are sensitive. I just picked the wrong one, I suppose.
Moderator
Back on topic please.
herefornow
Might have hoped that the cut in pocket-money has encouraged these guys to actually spend more quality time with the families. Instead they are stopping at the combini on the way home, buying that cheap, near-beer crap, and getting stewed at home. Wonderful.
nath
herefornow.
Why do you think british pubs(that don't serve food) are closing down by the score. They don't attract families. For similar reasons, no longer smoking allowed and a Pint is now cheaper at home and no enforced closing time. So grab a six-pack on the way home and Fish 'n Chips and you are golden.
All boils down to ergonomics, glad you can still afford a night on the town most people are struggling.