Tokyo, Sept. 18 (Jiji Press) — Tokyo Metropolitan University and five other universities in Japan said Wednesday that they have established a consortium to carry out research on child poverty in the country.

The consortium will collect data from municipalities across the country to analyze regional characteristics in child poverty and the effects of policy measures aimed at tackling the issue.

The five other institutions are Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Hokkaido University, Nihon Fukushi University, Osaka Prefecture University and Okinawa University.

Currently, field surveys on child poverty are carried out by municipalities, which adopt their own research methods. Regional comparisons are thus difficult. The consortium will collect raw data from municipalities for analysis and comparison by experts.

Specifically, the consortium will analyze possible links between child poverty and such factors as three-generation families, employment rates for parents, and average commute times.

The group is also expected to examine differences in the health condition of junior high school students and correlations with municipal programs to provide medical services free of charge for such children.

The revised law on the fight against child poverty that was enacted in June obliges municipalities to make efforts to draw up specific measures. The consortium plans to send experts to help municipalities compile such measures.