IGESSIGESS (Institute for Global Economics and Social Sciences)

We will start by investigating how Japan’s international trade and foreign direct investment evolve with the development of globalization, followed by discussion on some of the latest topics concerning Japan’s integration with the world economy.

The purpose of this course is twofold: to arouse the students’ interest towards the happenings that are related to Japanese economy, in a globalized context; and to equip students with the basic knowledge to reasonably question the phenomenon during the process of Japan’s globalization, from the standpoint of economics.

英語 / English

This will be an on-demand course. Videos and teaching materials will be uploaded in advance via Hosei's website ('lecture supporting system'). Lectures are given in line with the teaching materials. The combination of response papers, homework and a final exam will be used.
The answers to the representative questions in the response papers will be provided in each class.

あり / Yes

なし / No

授業形態/methods of teaching：オンライン/online

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1[オンライン/online]：Introduction

Introduction of the contents to be covered in the second semester

2[オンライン/online]：Japan’s trade with other countries

Why Japan promoted export and the benefit of trade liberalization

3[オンライン/online]：Japanese trade policies and the impact on world economy

The export and import policies that Japan adopted and its impact on world economy: the case of TPP

4[オンライン/online]：Firm structure and recruiting system in Japan

What does a firm consist of? What’s the recruiting system in Japan like compared to other countries? The case of Toyota multinational firms

5[オンライン/online]：The basics of FDI and Japanese multinational firms

To introduce the types of FDI and other basic knowledge of FDI

6[オンライン/online]：“Hollowing out” of Japan’s manufacturing sector through oversea FDI

Japan’s outward FDI and its connection with "hollowing out" impact: the case of Manga industry

7[オンライン/online]：Doing business in Japan

To introduce the benefits and difficulties of doing business in Japan: the case study of TripAdvisor

8[オンライン/online]：Japan’s recent economic stagnation

The declining economic growth is thought to be caused by insufficient domestic consumption: what to do

9[オンライン/online]：Shrinking population and immigration policy

How Japan can increase its working force, e.g. by using the immigration policy: the case of Germany

10[オンライン/online]：Ageing problem in Japan

The problem lies in the unbalanced pension system: how Japan can learn from other developed economies

11[オンライン/online]：ICT and innovation

How ICT promotes trade and FDI through the channel of innovation: case study (by JETRO report)

12[オンライン/online]：Structural reform of Japan

Structural reforms are vital for Japan, especially for agricultural farmers small and medium-sized firms

13[オンライン/online]：Sharing economy in Japan

The development and prosperity of sharing economy in Japan, in comparison to China

14[オンライン/online]：EU, ASEAN and Japan’s economic integration

How Japan can learn from EU and ASEAN to be integrated into global economy

It is highly recommended that students prepare in advance and review the contents after the class. Students are encouraged to read newspapers and references that are related to the topics included in the course schedule. It is important that students raise their own questions and actively participate in the discussion. 本授業の準備学習・復習時間は、各2時間を標準とします。

Teaching materials of both full textbook and charts in the PDF format are posted on the Hosei's website. Students are asked to download and print out the teaching materials before each class.

Flath, David, The Japanese Economy, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014.
Barba Navaretti, G. and A. J. Venables, Multinational Firms in the World Economy, Princeton University Press, 2004
Krugman, P.R., M. Obstfeld, and M. Melitz, International Economics: Theory and Policy, 10th Edition, Pearson, 2014
Robert C. Feenstra and Alan M. Taylor, International Economics, 2nd Edition, Worth Publishers, 2010

We will have a final exam for this course. But different from the regular written exam, it will be online and take the form of multiple choice question, using Hoppii (the same format as the homework). I will give you enough time, meanwhile you will be allowed to make reference to all the resources. As for the evaluation:
(1)Homework: 50%
(2)Final exam: 50%

Nothing particular