Abstract
The argument over integration of daycare centers and kindergartens is a long-standing issue in the early childhood care and education (ECCE) studies in Japan. Previous studies have shown parents’ mixed attitudes to the integration and their preferences for more affordable childcare fees. Thus, this paper aimed to clarify how the integration at the jurisdictional and institutional levels affects childcare fee reduction. Questionnaire survey was provided to staff of the municipal government sections in charge of daycare centers. Multivariate regression analysis showed that childcare fees tended to be reduced in municipalities where the integration is advanced and in those with one or more certified child centers operated by municipalities. The results suggest that the integration makes the municipal administration of ECCE more responsive to parental economic desires. Future research should accumulate quantitative evidence indicating the practical benefits accruing from the integration of ECCE.
