No Time for Love? The Impact of ICTs on Time Allocation and Relationships in Japan

This paper examines the ways in which Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have changed how we interact socially, and the resulting impact on time allocation and relationships. Specifically, we use regional variation in broadband internet coverage in Japan to examine the impact of ICTs on time allocation, time spent alone, participation in social activities, and marriage. Our estimates show that access to the internet is associated with a substantial increase not only in leisure time but also in time spent alone, especially in leisure activities. In addition, we find that internet availability decreases the marriage probability and increases the divorce rate of individuals. Overall, the results show that while ICTs have changed how we allocate our time and interact socially, in terms of long-term relationships, these new technologies have tended to introduce potential sources of social instability by reducing the likelihood of marriage, increasing the likelihood of divorce, and increasing the amount of solitary time for many