KIC

MEIGAKUKAN　MG001

English

This is a survey course of the Japanese economy. It is aimed at examining actors engaged in economic policymaking and economic institutions through a “political economy” perspective, with occasional international comparison. We use the course instructor’s book “The Japanese Economy” as the main text. Power point lecture is provided in each week, and we engage in class discussion in small groups. The course enables students to have solid understanding of the main characteristics of the Japanese economy, including the history of prominent economic events. The first part of the course examines the main indicators of the Japanese economy to familiarize students with its main features and chronologically analyzes some prominent economic issues in both pre-bubble and post-bubble periods. The next part of the course examines the structure of the Japanese economy by analyzing state-market relations and several economic institutions as well as the international dimension of the Japanese economy such as the regional economic integration in East Asia and the Asia Pacific. The following part of the course examines human and labor factors of the Japanese economy by analyzing the main characteristics of labor market, human resource management and industrial relations as well as population-related issues such as Japan’s low fertility rates, aging and declining population and migration in relation to Japan’s labor market and working conditions. The course also has one session about Japan’s “Galapagos” syndrome – Japan’s unique socio-economic phenomena evolved in isolation from the rest of the world – and critically examines this issue from the perspective of economic efficiency, digitalization, bureaucracy and interest group politics. The concluding session summarizes what we have learned in this course.

Students are provided with power point lecture slides prior to each class. Students are encouraged to engage in class discussion in small groups. The course emphasizes the importance of the interaction between students and the course instructor, and students are required to fully participate in discussion by conducting assigned reading prior to each class. To assist students’ understanding, the course instructor provides several opportunities for students to watch relevant video clips in the class.

Students who complete this course would be able to:
1) Discuss contemporary issues in the Japanese economy critically and theoretically;
2) Identify prominent issues in Japan’s economic history;
3) Construct logical arguments and support them by referring to the relevant literature in an essay.

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors)	Theme
	Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
1	Introduction
	Overview of the course, including an explanation of essay writing as an assignment
2	Measuring the Japanese economy
	GDP, Prices, Trade, FDI, Government sector, Welfare state, Labor productivity (Text: Chap 3)
3	Pre-bubble Japanese economy
	“1940s’ system”, Economic reconstruction and miracle, Oil crises, US-Japan trade conflict, Bubble economy (Text: Chap 1)
4-5	Post-bubble Japanese economy (Part 1 & 2)
	Economic globalization and regionalization, Non-performing loans, Regulatory reforms, “Gap society”, “Abenomics” (Text: Chap 2)
6-7	Structure of the Japanese economy (Domestic: Part 1 & 2)
	State-market relations, “Developmental” state, Keiretsu, Institutional complementarities, Dual economy (Text: Chap 4)
8-9	Structure of the Japanese economy (International: Part 1 & 2)
	Neoliberalism vs. Keynesianism, Convergence and diversity among capitalisms, Regional economic integration (Text: Chap 4)
10-11	Human and labor factors of the Japanese economy (Part 1 & 2)
	Human resource management, Industrial relations, Gender discrimination, Labor market dualism (Text: Chap 5)
12-13	Human and labor factors of the Japanese economy (Part 3 & 4)
	Low fertility rate, Declining and aging population, Labor migration, Work precarity and labor unions’ response (Text: Chap 5)
14	“Galapagos” syndrome: Lack of economic efficiency and digitalization
	Lack of economic efficiency, Digitalization, Bureaucracy, Interest groups (Text: Chap 6)
15	Review
	Summary of the course

Class 1-15: In-person (Zoom may be used when necessary)

Students are required to read the relevant chapter or sections of the main textbook and conduct assigned reading prior to each class.

Kind	Percentage	Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written)	0
Report Examination (A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)
Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment　 (Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)	100	Essay (paper) 1,500-2,000 words

The course instructor provides students with a list of essay questions and students choose one question from the list to write an essay. In the essay, students are required to present main arguments and evidence such as relevant academic sources and data. Students are required to submit the essay by the deadline.

Academic misconduct such as plagiarism and data fabrication may result in fail and an academic disciplinary action in accordance with the College's rules.

Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN Code	Comment
The Japanese Economy	Watanabe, Hiroaki Richard	Agenda Publishing / Columbia University Press	9781788210515

Students are required to read the relevant chapter or sections prior to each class. https://www.agendapub.com/books/59/the-japanese-economy; http://cup.columbia.edu/book/the-japanese-economy/9781788210515

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry http://www.meti.go.jp
Ministry of Finance http://www.mof.go.jp
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare http://www.mhlw.go.jp
Nikkei Asian Review http://www.asia.nikkei.com

Learning Management System （manaba+R）,Talk with Students,Other (Separate instructions will be provided)

【科目ナンバリング・カリキュラムマップはこちらから/Click here to see the Curriculum-Map and Course-Numbering】
URL:http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp//students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html