Japanese Economy in Transition

2016/07/05

Ryoichi Imai

International Student Center, Kyushu University
imai.ryoichi.303
i`jm.kyushu-u.ac.jp

Outline

We discuss the latest issues in Japanese economy. The course consists of two parts. In the first half, we review the mechanism and the consequence of the global financial crisis since 2008. In the second half we discuss the current debates such as energy policy, youth unemployment, and fiscal crisis in the politico-economic context.

Requirements and Grading Assessment (in parenthesis)

1.     One presentation of the selected issues. You have to make  a set of slides using Microsoft PowerPoint or equivalent software. (40%)

2.     One final take-home examination subject to change. (40%)

3.     Regular attendance and participation in class discussion.  (20%)

You can get two credits by completing all the requirements described above. Some students need three credits in order to transfer credits in accordance with their home university's academic rule. In that case, you have to do two presentations, which will be specified in the later stage of the course.

Schedule

The class will start with a series of my lecture. Later students will present their assignments in the class. A detailed weekly plan will be announced soon.

Part I: Economic Geography of Japan

Sorry, most readings are in Japanese m(_ _)m

1&2. Kyushu Economy in the World (4/6, 4/13)

Introduction to the Kyushu Economy for International Investors

Summary of Kyushu Economy 2015

3. Short Lecture on Japanfs Automobile Industry (4/20)

Japanfs UNESCO World Heritage Page
Miike Coal Mines (J)
Gunkanjima Concierge (J)

Ito Den-emon House (J)

Hanako to Anne (Episode 95)

Toyota has an amazing History Page!

Toyota Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles
WSJ on hydrogen stations
WSJ on the hydrogen-powered car: Mirai.

The Telegraph: Toyotafs driverless car

4&5. Revitalizing Regional Economy

Japan Revitalization Strategy
National Strategic Special Zones (in Japanese)

Takatoshi Tabuchi (2013) Historical Trends of agglomeration to the capital region (in English)

Definition of Urban Area by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (in Japanese)

Demographia World Urban Area 2015

Population Concentration on Urban Area (in Japanese)

Working population across industries by prefectures (in Japanese)

GDP by prefectures
Productivity Convergence across Prefectures in Postwar Japan
Scale Economy in Agriculture (in Japanese)

6&7. Urban-Regional Redistribution and the Heisei Municipal Mergers

The benefit/cost ratio by prefectures
Transfer through the special account for road maintenance
Regional gap in the consumption tax revenue

National Tax Agency State-Regional Division of Income Taxes (J)
- State-Regional Division of Consumption Taxes (J)

Corporate Tax in Japan (J)

Takero Doi (2010) Poverty traps with Local Allocation Tax grants in Japan (in English, but technical)

Takero Doi (2006) Interregional Income Redistribution Reconsidered (J)

Kazuhiko Tomiyama (2014) Sectoral Change in Industries and Higher Education Reform (J)

Koyotaka KOICHI (????) Development of Municipal Mergers in Japan (in English)

Municipal Mergers and Dissolutions in Japan (in English)

Anthony Raush (2010) Post Heisei Merger in Japan (E)

Before and After the Heisei Municipal Mergers (J)

Yubari, Japan: a city learns how to die  (E)

German GDP

Dani Rodrik (2010) Greek Lessons for the World Economy (E)

Population, area, density by prefectures (J)

Aging ranking by municipals (J)

Regional average income ranking by municipals (J)
Regional average income tax revenue ranking by municipals  (J)

Municipals in Tokyo (J)
Regional average income tax revenue ranking by municipals in Tokyo (J)

Osaka referendum causes turbulence for LDP, Komeito
Redistribution within Osaka City (J)

8. Tourism

Annual Report on Tourism 2014 (J)
Policies on Tourism 2010 (J)
Concentration of Tour Demands (J)
Economic Impacts of Tourism (J)

Dispersing the National Holidays (J)

Yoshiro Hoshino (2015) Holidays must be dispersed (J)
Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU (J)

NHK(2014) Is it possible to disperse holidays? (J)

Agriturism in Ukiha, Fukuoka (J)
Ukiha-city (J)

National Holidays (J)

9 (6/8). Urban and Nationwide Railway Transportation

On the Effects of the Shinkansen (J)
Economic Consequences of the Shinkansen (J)

passenger transportation share by vehicles (J)
distribution traffic share by vehicles (J)

Annual Report on JR East (J)

Accounting Report on JR Shikoku 2015 (J)

Accounting Report on JR Hokkaido 2015 (J)

Accounting Report on JR Kyushu 2014 (J)
JR Kyushu should not be listed on TSE before it pays back its debts (J)
Government decides to list JR Kyushu on TSE in 2016 (J)

Balance of Payment of JR Groups: East West

Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency (J)

Kansai Prefectural Governors approve the Maibara Route (J)

Seven Stars in Kyushu
Private Resort – Tenku no Mori
Tour Trains of JR Kyushu (J)

Linear Chuo Shinkansen (J)

10 (6/15). Abenomics and Japanfs growth strategy  

The 10-year maturity government bonds of Japan
The Kuroda
fs announcement on April 4th amazed the western media
International companies do not always create employment or bring tax revenues to the US.
The Baumolfs Cost Disease
Iidafs comments on the consumption tax rate rise

Macroeconomics supporting Abenomics
Jordi Gali
(2014)
Thinking the unthinkable: The effects of a money-financed fiscal stimulus
(2015)
Start the presses: reconsidering a money-financed fiscal stimulus
(2014) The Effects of a Money-Financed Fiscal Stimulus

The Economics of Two-Sided Markets
Rochet and Tirole (2003) Platform Competition in Two-Sided Markets
Evans, Hagiu, and Schmalensee (2006) Invisible Engines
Hagiu (2004)
Two-Sided Platforms: Pricing and Social Efficiency
Anderson and Coate (2005) Market Provision of Broadcasting: A Welfare Analysis

Electronic Money in Japan (J)

The Increasing Share of E-commerce (J)

Abefs economic advisor reveals his cautious view on the China leading AIIB

11 (6/22). Abenomics and Its Consequences

4 Signs of Abenomics' Dismal Failure

Nikkei Average (Tokyo Stock Exchange)

JGB 10 yrs rate
JGB 10 yrs rate
JGB average

The leading advocate for NIRP:
Miles Kimball (2016) Negative Interest Rate Policy as Conventional Monetary Policy
Japan Times: The NIRP is unpopular

Unemployment Rate Labor Market Tightness
Record 97% of university graduates land jobs

Monthly Employment Survey April 2016
Monthly Employment Survey

GDP per person employed (constant 2011 PPP $)
GDP Accounting of Japan (
“เŠt•{)@(2014-EXCEL)

Consumersf Price Index (CPI) (‘–ฑศ) April 2016

Fiscal Balance International Comparison
Simulation - Tokyo Foundation Model

Household Survey April 2016

Consumption Level Index
BOJ Consumption Index (J)

Why do real wages stagnate even though the labor share of GDP remains constant?
Kawaguchi (2016) Real Wages and Terms of Trade (J)

Philips Curve in Japan
Real GDP per person employed in Japan

12 (6/29) Miscellaneous Topics

Regional Gaps in EU, US, and Japan

Nominal GDP per capita in Europe

Real GDP per capita in the world

Prefectural income per capita in Japan

List of US states by GDP per capita

Price Level Index for Europe

Student commutes to University of London from Poland to save money on accommodation rent

CPI by prefecture in Japan

International Comparison of CPI

Birth Rates in UK

Fiscal Consolidation

Tax revenues are not enough to cover the expenses

Government budget for 2016    Slide

International Comparison of Government Debts

Deficits in Central and Regional Governments

How consumption tax revenues are shared by central and regional governments

Contents and Culture Industry

A short lecture on Kabuki 2015
Shochiku Kabuki Website
Kabuki Actors (Current)
Hakata-za Theater
Kabuki on NHK
How to watch NHK World TV

Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (2014) Contents Industry: Today and the Future (J)
Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (2010) Toward Economic Prosperity based on Cultural Industry (J)

The Economics of Orchestras

Association of Japanese Symphony Orchestras (J)
Annual Report of the Members 2013 (J)
Annual Report of the Members 2004 (J)

Financial Reports of the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra (J)

League of American Orchestras
US Orchestra Facts March 2015

Energy Crisis and Local Economies

Healthcare Cost Control in Japan

International Comparison of Medicare System (J)
In Japan, All-Payer Rate Setting Under Tight Government Control Has Proved To Be An Effective Approach To Containing Costs

Labor Market Issues

Kuroda (2013) Working Hours in Japan (J)

Prescott (2002) Prosperity and Depression

Daily Routines of Famous Creative People

13 (7/6) Review

Part II: Students' Presentations

A. Review the income redistribution system of your own country.

1.    Review the regional governance.

l  How governors and local diet members are elected?

l  How does the ruling system solve the conflicts between the governor and the diet.

2.    Review the taxation and subsidy system.

l  State tax or regional tax?

l  How tax revenues are redistributed from urban to rural regions?

l  Are there political tensions between urban and rural regions?

l  How does the central government help local governments if they suffer deficits?

B. Review your countryfs policies on tourism and local transportation

1.    Review the transportation policies

l  Roles for motor vehicle roads, railways, and flights.

l  Problems of urban transportation (costs and congestion)

l  How to finance the construction and maintenance of local public infrastructure

2.    Review your countryfs policy on tourism

l  How important is tourism industries in your countryfs economy?

l  Describe the policies to promote tourism.

l  Targets: national or international?

14 (7/13)

l  France A: Maewen

l  France B: Julien

l  Indonesia: Orysa

15. (7/20)

l  China A: Selina

l  China B: Henry

l  Taiwan: Joanna

Final Take-Home Examination (New 2016)