Article type
Abstract
"Background: The scarcity of publicly subsidized daycare centers in Japan presents a critical challenge, exacerbating the issue of waiting children, or ""taikijido,"" making it a significant political agenda. Despite government efforts to expand daycare capacity, demand remains unmet, pointing towards inefficiencies in the daycare matching process.One of the challenges for parents seeking daycare is the information acquisition cost. Parents need to spend considerable time collecting information on rules and details about daycare centers to meet their children's specific needs, including allergy support, and support for developmental disabilities and medical care. With complex rules and a system of governmental support, reducing information asymmetry has become critical across various fields through cutting-edge techniques.
Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the impact of the Daycare Search Map, an innovative application system designed to lower information acquisition costs for parents, thereby facilitating better daycare choices and reducing the number of waiting children.
Methods: Employing a randomized control trial (N = 50) in Shibuya City, we compared the effectiveness of the Daycare Search Map against traditional application processes. Our methodology included analyzing application behaviors, distance preferences, and overall satisfaction levels among participating parents.
Results: The introduction of the tool significantly increased the length of rank order lists by 37%, enabled them to find daycare centers 39% closer to their homes, and reduced the number of waiting children by approximately 37%, suggesting enhanced efficiency in daycare selection and allocation.
Conclusions: The Daycare Search Map effectively reduces information acquisition costs, leading to more informed and optimal daycare choices by parents. This innovation not only improves the daycare matching process but also contributes to social welfare by reducing the number of waiting children.
Relevance and Importance: Our study demonstrates the power of technological solutions in addressing systemic inefficiencies in public service allocation. By reducing the gap in information access, we can significantly improve outcomes for families and communities, showcasing a methodological innovation with broad applicability in evidence synthesis and policy-making.
Public Involvement: The development and evaluation of the Daycare Search Map involved collaboration with local parents, incorporating their feedback and preferences to ensure the tool's effectiveness and user-friendliness.
"
Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the impact of the Daycare Search Map, an innovative application system designed to lower information acquisition costs for parents, thereby facilitating better daycare choices and reducing the number of waiting children.
Methods: Employing a randomized control trial (N = 50) in Shibuya City, we compared the effectiveness of the Daycare Search Map against traditional application processes. Our methodology included analyzing application behaviors, distance preferences, and overall satisfaction levels among participating parents.
Results: The introduction of the tool significantly increased the length of rank order lists by 37%, enabled them to find daycare centers 39% closer to their homes, and reduced the number of waiting children by approximately 37%, suggesting enhanced efficiency in daycare selection and allocation.
Conclusions: The Daycare Search Map effectively reduces information acquisition costs, leading to more informed and optimal daycare choices by parents. This innovation not only improves the daycare matching process but also contributes to social welfare by reducing the number of waiting children.
Relevance and Importance: Our study demonstrates the power of technological solutions in addressing systemic inefficiencies in public service allocation. By reducing the gap in information access, we can significantly improve outcomes for families and communities, showcasing a methodological innovation with broad applicability in evidence synthesis and policy-making.
Public Involvement: The development and evaluation of the Daycare Search Map involved collaboration with local parents, incorporating their feedback and preferences to ensure the tool's effectiveness and user-friendliness.
"