CIRJE Conferences 2003

"Contemporary Economic Policy Issues in Asia"
(The Institute of Economic Research, Seoul National University/CIRJE)

  • Organizers:
    Institute of Economic Research, Seoul National University
    CIRJE
  • Sponsored by Shinhan Bank and ASP Alumni Association
  • February 1, 2004
  • Hoam Faculty House, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
  • Conference Program

CIRJE and the Institute of Economic Research at Seoul National University organized a conference, Contemporary Economic Policy Issues in Asia, on February 1, 2004. At the conference, two papers from University of Tokyo, and two papers from Seoul National University were presented, which covered common current policy issues of the Korean and Japanese economies, such as fiscal and environmental policies, and the aftermath of the Asian Financial Crisis. These papers will be published as a special conference volume of Seoul Journal of Economics.

Trio 2003 Conference (NBER-CEPR-TCER/CIRJE)

  • Organizer:
    Shin-ichi Fukuda (University of Tokyo)
    Takeo Hoshi (UCSD)
    Sadao Nagaoka (Hitotsubashi University)
  • December 8-9, 2003
  • Ark Mori Building, Roppongi, Tokyo

The TRIO conference of this academic year took place on 8th and 9th of December 2003 at 36th floor of the Ark Mori Building. The theme of the conference was the financing of retirement, which is one of today's most significant medium to long-term issues of economic and social policy in Europe, the US and Japan as well. While each region faces a different environment in terms of demographic trends, savings behavior, and economic outlook, in all cases major changes to existing national systems of retirement are inevitable. Still, there is considerable debate among economists and policy-makers as to the most appropriate form for new institutions, and there is very little willingness on the part of citizens to contemplate any changes that might reduce benefits from current publicly-funded systems. Additionally, reforms are likely to have significant effects in the capital markets; offering opportunities for new products, causing shifts in asset allocation, and raising new questions about regulation. In total, seven papers were presented from Japan, US and Europe for intensive discussions.

Japan-U.S. Symposium on Economic Recovery in the U.S. and Japan: Fact or Fiction
(CIRJE / The Center for Japan-U.S. Business and Economic Studies, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, New York University)

  • Organizers:
    Toni Braun (CIRJE and University of Tokyo)
    Katsuhito Iwai (University of Tokyo)
    Naoto Kunitomo (CIRJE and University of Tokyo)
    Rama V. Ramachandran (New York University)
    Ryuzo Sato (New York University and University of Tokyo)
  • November 14, 2003
  • Four Seasons Hotel Amphitheater

"Japan-U.S. Symposium on Economic Recovery in the U.S. and Japan: Fact or Fiction" was held at the Four Seasons Hotel Amphitheater in Tokyo on November 14, 2003. The symposium was co-organized by the Center for Japan-U.S. Business and Economic Studies, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, New York University, and CIRJE, University of Tokyo. More than 100 people participated. It was very timely that the two major universities of Tokyo and New York came together to examine how the trading partners across the Pacific are recovering from the slowdowns of the past.


PROGRAM

Keynote Speeches:
Chair: Tatsuo Hatta (University of Tokyo and CIRJE)
Thomas F. Cooley (New York Unviersity) "Economic Recovery in the U. S. and Japan"
Hiroshi Yoshikawa (University of Tokyo) "Structural Reform and the Japanese Economy"
Ryuzo Sato (New York University and University of Tokyo) "Macroeconomic Policies of Japan and the U. S.: Contrasted"
Panel Discussion:
"Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats to the Japanese and United States Economies"
Moderator: R. Anton Braun (University of Tokyo and CIRJE)
Panelists: Thomas F. Cooley (New York University), Tatsuo Hatta (University of Tokyo and CIRJE), Fumio Hayashi(University of Tokyo and CIRJE), Ryuzo Sato (New York University and University of Tokyo), Hiroshi Yoshikawa(University of Tokyo)

CIRJE-TCER Macro Conference V (TCER/CIRJE)

  • Organizers:
    Kenn Ariga (Kyoto University)
    Charles Yuji Horioka (Osaka University)
    Fumio Hayashi (CIRJE, University of Tokyo)
  • September 27, 2003
  • Gakushi Kaikan Hongo Annex

The fifth annual CIRJE-TCER Macroeconomics Conference was held in Tokyo. Six papers were presented. The topics covered are: Banking Crisis and Macroeconomy, Aging of the Population and Saving, Downward Rigidity of Wages and Unemployment, Resource Allocation within the Family, and Corporate Finance. More than 30 economists from leading universities and Bank of Japan participated.

The Fifth Annual Japan Project Meeting (NBER/CIRJE/EIJS/CEPR)

  • Co-organized by: NBER, EIJS, CEPR and CIRJE
  • Organizers:
    Magnus Blomstrom (Stockholm School of Economics)
    Jennifer Corbett (Australian National University)
    Fumio Hayashi(CIRJE, University of Tokyo)
    Anil Kashyap (University of Chicago)
  • September 19-20, 2003
  • Asian Development Bank Institute in Kasumigaseki Building

The Fifth Annual CIRJE Japan Project Meeting, co-organized with the NBER (National Bureau of Economic Research, based in the U.S.), the EIJS (European Institute for Japanese Studies, based in Sweden), and the CEPR (Center for Economic Policy Research, based in England), was held on September 19 and 20, 2003, at the Asian Development Bank Institute in the Kasumigaseki Building. More than 90 academics, private-sector economists, journalists, and policymakers from within and outside Japan participated. This year's conference was the largest so far in terms of attendance. Eight papers were presented. Many of them were about the Bank of Japan's monetary policy and "evergreening" by Japanese banks. There was also a lively panel discussion on Japanese monetary policy.