Xiaoqing (Maggie) Fu, University of Macau: This paper uses a unique survey data set on telework in Japan in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic to investigate the impact of telework on worker efficiency and the determinants of teleworking efficiency. The topic is timely and important because the ongoing pandemic has made teleworking a more important contribution to business continuity. This development is important in Japan in particular. Prior to the crisis, Japanese firms were reluctant to adopt teleworking even though the Japanese government has campaigned since 2016 for the introduction of telework as part of its labor reforms. The findings suggest that during the COVID-19 pandemic, telework has reduced worker efficiency by around 20 percent. Teleworking efficiency is found to be significantly and positively related to telework experience, clearly specified tasks, flexible working time, and good mental health.
In Section 2, the authors compare the rates of teleworking for...