Domestic Politics of Japan's China Policy
This report discusses desirable policy directions and options in the aftermath of the Great Tohoku Earthquake. It argues that the importance of Japan’s productivity growth has not been invalidated by the disaster, and suggests that Japan should consider restoration and reconstruction from the earthquake as a great opportunity to reposition its policies.
It identifies concrete steps Japan can take to jump start growth in three broad themes: regulatory reforms (reducing the costs of doing business, stopping protection for zombie firms, deregulation especially in non-manufacturing sectors and growth enhancing special zones); opening-up of the Japanese economy (trade liberalization, reduction of agricultural subsidies and new immigration policy); and macroeconomic policy reforms (fiscal consolidation and monetary expansion to end deflation).
This report provides one of the first coherent, readable narratives of the Fukushima nuclear disaster—what happened in the first few days. It is based on new sources available in Japanese and National Diet testimonies, and is an objective overview of events as they unfolded, rather than an ideologically positioned effort of advocacy. The report goes on to analyze the institutional and governance aspects of Japan’s nuclear oversight, highlighting the fundamental problems that surfaced during the disaster that stem from deeper structural issues. The report also draws upon expertise from a conference held at Stanford University in February 2012 to analyze the politics and industry structure of Japan’s electric power sector, making concrete recommendations for reorganizing the power industry and government oversight structure.
Li is interested in the design of macroeconomic policies that mitigate financial frictions in firm investments. Her current research focuses on quantifying the cost of resolving insolvent firms and its impact on aggregate output in China and Japan.
Prior to coming to Stanford, Li was a Japanese Government Scholarship holder, and graduated with a BA and an MA in economics from the University of Tokyo.
The Asia Health Policy Program (AHPP) at Stanford’s Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (Shorenstein APARC) looks forward to welcoming its incoming 2012–13 research fellows from Mongolian Medical University, the University of Hawai’i, and Harvard. AHPP’s new fellows specialize in research topics including cervical cancer prevention, migrant remittances, and the political economy of support for the elderly.
Developing Asia Health Policy Fellows
Baigalimaa Gendendarjaa will be joining AHPP from the Mongolian National Cancer Center. Her research includes a comparative study of how knowledge of cervical cancer risk factors has influenced behavior changes in Mongolia before and after the introduction of the National Cervical Cancer Program. She holds a master’s degree in medicine from Mongolian Medical University.
Asia Health Policy Postdoctoral Fellow
Yuki Takagi earned her PhD in government from Harvard University and is completing a postdoctoral fellowship at Princeton. Her dissertation research focuses on the political economy of support for the elderly and intergenerational family transfers, such as nursing and childcare, focusing on Japan. Takagi holds bachelor of economics and master of law degrees from the University of Tokyo.
Throughout the academic year the AHPP fellows will present seminars, take part in individual and collaborative research projects, and participate in campus events.
In this lecture, Professor Okimoto discusses social, economic, political, and demographic challenges facing Japan. He discusses their ramifications and explores possible measures that could help ensure a prosperous future for Japan.
In this lecture, Professor Okimoto discusses the Japan American Security Alliance (JASA). He examines reasons behind its longevity and success as well as short- and long-term prospects for its sustainability