Master’s Program in Economics for JDS Students 2007-2008Graduate School of Economics, Ritsumeikan University
Message from the Dean
Thank you for your interest in the Graduate School of Economics, Ritsumeikan University. Since its establishment in 1950, the Graduate School of Economics of Ritsumeikan University has produced many outstanding graduates who entered the academia, the business world, central and local governments, and research organizations. The campus, located near Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, is surrounded by abundant nature, and provides the best level of facilities and equipment.
Beginning of the 2001 academic year, many courses have been offered in English. The Graduate School of Economics is home to many renowned international Economics and International students who have enjoyed taking such courses as well as writing and submitting their thesis in conjunction with their academic advisers. The program starting from September 2002 enables students to enroll in elective courses such as International Finance, Development Economics, Environment Economics, International Economics, and Financial Economics as well as a number of core courses. In 2004, we enlarged the program to non-JDS students from developing countries through alternative scholarships and other funding.
We are confident that as a leader they will have great contribution to social and economic development of their home country after finishing the Master’s Program of our School. We also believe that they will form bridges among their home countries and Japan. We look forward to meeting you who will participate in the program in 2007-2008.
Katsuo Iwata, Dean
Graduate School of Economics
Ritsumeikan University
1. Overview
The undergraduate school, the Faculty of Economics was established in 1903 and The Graduate School of Economics was originated in 1950. And its educational philosophy is peace and democracy. The faculty has nurtured as much as 50,000 students with independence and ability in business. We feel proud that we kept a prominent position among a lot of graduate schools and faculties of economics in Japan in terms of quality of education and research.
The Graduate School of Economics is at Biwako-Kusatsu Campus near Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. At the campus, surrounded by abundant nature, we offer a cutting-edge environment in which to educate and train future business leaders and economists for the new century. At present, there are full faculty members in the master’s and doctoral program. Students in the two-year master’s degree program can choose from three research programs: Economic theory and Policy(in Japanese), Taxation and Public Finance(in Japanese) and Economic Development(in English), Economic theory and Policy involves broad ranging research in the field of social/economic system and history and microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, finance, international economics and public economics. The Master’s Program in Economic Development (abbreviated in MPED) for JDS students is mainly based on Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Econometrics, and offers many courses of other programs. In total 27 JDS students have studied in MPED. They are from Bangladesh, the Philippines, Vietnam, Uzbekistan and Myanmar. 7 more students will be enrolled in the 2006-2007 academic year.
2. Purpose of Program
This program provides the curriculum mainly for those who wish to contribute to economic and social development of their home countries. Students are expected to acquire the following capability through their studies and research activities:
(1) to become an expert in economic and social development policy, who can conduct policy and cooperate with international organizations and discuss with their staffs.
(2) to understand the recent development of the Japanese society and economy and the problems it faces through the studies of the Post-war economic history.
3. Characteristics of Program
(1) The First Year’s Study
Students are required to take common courses such as Elementary Seminar, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Econometrics, Development Economics, and Japanese Economy. A course of Elementary Seminar enables students to prepare for master thesis with brushing up their original research proposals. In the first semester, they have opportunities to discuss their own research concern as well as participating in field trips for understanding some aspects of the Japanese economy and society. In the second semester, they are eligible to learn how to organize their research topics in the thesis. As for Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, students are to be divided into 2 classes with considering the academic background of each student. For general understanding of issues on economic development they can also enroll elective courses: International Finance, Development Economics, Environmental Economics, International Economics, Financial Economics and a course on current issues (Topics in Economics). Every year, our school invites distinguish overseas scholars who provide lectures on current topics.
(2) The Second Year’s Study
Students enroll elective courses and special seminars according to their own research concern. Research areas are broadly categorized as follows:
1) issues on national economy such as fiscal & financial policy, and industrial policy.
2) issues on international economy such as trade policy and international finance.
3) business startup, accumulation of technology in small business, and its international transfer.
4) protecting natural environment for sustainable development.
Students can take such courses by using econometric methods, doing fieldwork study, or participating in internship programs according to their own research themes. They will have opportunities to participate in internship programs during a long vacation.
(3) Degree
The School confers the Master’s Degree in Economics on graduate students who successfully earn required credits. Students are supposed to accumulate a total of 32 credits to come from course work, seminars with their academic advisors, and their final thesis. The Masters Degree is also conferred to anyone who finishes a research paper instead of final thesis. Students write their thesis about wide range of topics that include economic theory, issues on the Japanese economy, the economy of developing countries, environment economics, public finance, social welfare and so on. The following are the topics of Master’s thesis by JDS students.
・ Issues Relating to Effectiveness of Monetary Policy and Fiscal Policy in the Context of Developing Countries with a Special Reference to Bangladesh.
・ The Role of Financial Instruments in Inducing Foreign Direct Investment into Vietnam.
・ Exchange Rate Reform and Export Growth in Vietnam.
・ Implementation of the WTO Agreements: Impact on Internal Resources Mobilization in LDCs Especially in Bangladesh.
・ Valuation of Health Effect of Air Pollution in Dhaka City.
・Migration and Risk: An analysis of Migration of Less Developed Countries.
・Economic Reforms in Myanmar.
・Do Stock Markets Really Promote Economic Growth in Developing Countries?
・Growth, Poverty and Labor in Mindanao, Philippines.
・Structural Change, Growth Performance and Trend: The Case of Philippines Agriculture, During the first year’s study, students can choose a master thesis or a research paper.
Each course is worth 2 credits per semester. Full year courses and seminars are worth 4 credits. The final thesis is worth 6 credits and research paper is worth 2 credits.
4. Curriculum
Curriculum at a Glance
5. Teaching Staff at the Graduate School of Economics and Research Topic
AGATSUMA, Nobuhiko Professor
Environmental economics; economic policy
FURUKAWA, Akira Professor
Research on contemporary Japanese economy
HIRATA, Junichi Professor
Empirical and theoretical analysis of Japanese and U.S. financial markets and the macro economy
INABA, Kazuo Professor
Empirical studies of Japanese corporate overseas activities
IZAWA, Hiroshi Professor
Theoretical and empirical analysis of Japanese financial system
LEE, Kangkook Associate Professor
Macroeconomics and International finance
KAJIYAMA, Naoki Professor
International Finance
KASAI Toshiyuki Professor
Official development assistance and development issues
MATSUBARA, Toyohiko Professor
Agriculture and agribusiness in Canada and Japan
MATSUI, Satoshi Professor
Political economy and economic philosophy
NISHIGUCHI, Kiyokatsu Professor
Development issues; economic development in East Asia
OKAWA, Masayuki Professor
International Economics; theory of international trade and trade policy
SAKATA, Kei Associate Professor
Labor Economics, Applied Econometrics
SHIMADA, Kohji Professor
Environmental Policy
YOSHIDA, Chisato Associate Professor
International Economics, Microeconomics
ZEHNG, Xiao-Ping Professor
Urban and Regional Economics, Regional Science
6. Provisional Academic Calendar
