Seminar in the Japanese Economy II
Spring 2005
Syllabus
2005/04/21
Ryoichi Imai
International Student Center, Kyushu University
imryoichi@isc.kyushu-u.ac.jp
http://homepage3.nifty.com/ronten/JTWhome.htm
Contents
This course is designed to provide opportunities to acquire some fundamental knowledge of the Japanese economy at both macroeconomic and microeconomic levels. In the spring semester, the course will focus on the structural problems of the Japanese Economy, such as the corporate governance, the personnel practices, and the financial system.
Organization, Attendance, and Other Requirements
The course starts with the instructor's lecture. Later students will start to present their requirements.
Course attendants are required to satisfy the following requirements.
Submit One homework on the reading materials
Make (at least) Three oral presentations of the reading materials. You are required to make a set of PowerPoint slides for each article you present. If you need to obtain more than two credits, you are required to do extra presentations.
Regular class attendance is strictly required. You are strongly encouraged to propose your own opinions and ideas on each topic in the class discussion.
None.
Assessment Details (as of April 2005)
Class Attendance and Discussion 10%
Homework 30%
Presentations 60%
Schedule and Readings (subject to Change)
1. (4/6) Introduction:
2. (4/13) Lecture
Hayashi, Fumio and Edward C. Prescott [2002] The 1990s in Japan: A Lost Decade, Review of Economic Dynamics.
3. (4/20) Lecture
Prescott, Edward C. [2002] Prosperity and Depression, American Economic Review, 92(2), 1-15
4. (4/27) Lecture:
Iwai, Katsuhito (2002), The Nature of the Business Corporation: Its Legal Structure and Economic Functions, Japanese Economic Review 53(3), 243-273.
5. (5/11) Students' Presentation (2)
Porter, Michael E. and Mariko Sakakibara (2004) Competition in Japan, Journal of Economic Perspectives, 18(1), 27-50.
Daniel, Andy,
6. (5/18) Students' Presentation (2)
Imai, Kenichi and Ryutaro Komiya (1990), Characteristics of Japanese Firms,
Chloe, Joice, Andy
7. (5/25) Students' Presentation (2)
Iwamoto, Yasushi (2002), The Fiscal Investment and Loan Program in Transition, Journal of the Japan and International Economics 16, 583-604.
Daniel, Rachel, Heather
8. (6/1) Students' Presentation (2):
Flath, David [2003], Regulation, Distribution Efficiency, and Retail Density, in Blomstrom et al (ed.) Structural Impediments to Growth in Japan, University of Chicago Press.
Chloe, Rachel, Makoto
9. (6/8) Students' Presentation (2)
Ono, Hiroshi, and Marcus Rebick [2003], Constraints on the Level and Efficient Use of Labor, in Corporate Financing and Governance in Japan, Cambridge MA: MIT Press.
Daniel, Heather, Andy,
10. (6/15) Students' Presentation (2)
Yafeh, Yishay [2003], An International Perspective of Corporate Groups and their Prospects, in Corporate Financing and Governance in Japan, Cambridge MA: MIT Press.
Joice, Heather, Makoto
11. (6/22) Students' Presentation (3) Homework Due.
Varian, Hal [2004], Competition and Market Power , in The Economics of Information Technology, Cambridge University Press.
Makoto, Rachel
12. (6/29) Students' Presentation (3)
Farell, Joseph, and Carl Shapiro [2004], Intellectual Property, Competition, and Information Technology, in The Economics of Information Technology, Cambridge University Press.
Andy, Joice, and Chloe
13. (7/6) Lecture and Review of Homework
Hoshi, Takeo and Anil K. Kashyap (2004) Costs and Benefits of Keiretsu Financing, in Corporate Financing and Governance in Japan, Cambridge MA: MIT Press.
14. (7/13) Lecture and Review of Homework
Morishima, Michio (2000), The Japanese Financial System: Its Solidarity and Vulnerability, in Japan at a Deadlock, Macmillan UK.
15. (7/20) Review of the Course