Preferences for Nuclear Power in Post-Fukushima Japan: Evidence from a Large Nationwide Household Survey

Abstract

Utilizing the data of a large nationwide household survey conducted in 2014, we investigatepublic preferences on nuclear power in Japan after the Fukushima nuclear accident and the role offour sets of factors: (1) household/individual socioeconomic characteristics, (2) psychological status,(3) geographical aspects, and (4) Fukushima accident-related experiences. The preferred energy mix,according to the averaged responses from the survey, includes 0.59 for renewables, 0.29 for fossilfuels, and 0.12 for nuclear—much more skewed towards the renewables than the actual nationalshare of renewables of less than 0.2. Male, older, unmarried, less educated, high-income people,and government party supporters have a preference towards a higher share of nuclear power, except ifthey live near nuclear power plants. The experience of blackout and aversion to nuclear power duringthe Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 lowers the share of nuclear power in the preferred mix.