Each class has a practical and applied orientation, and relies heavily on Japanese examples and case studies. All courses are conducted in English and taught in the Graduate School of Business and Commerce. The course summaries can be viewed by clicking on the course title below, though detailed syllabi and reading lists will be normally handed out in the first meeting of each class.

Business Economics

(Spring; Year 1)

The objective of this course is to learn basic microeconomic topics such as demand, supply, markets and strategy in a manner that emphasizes their managerial relevance within today's business environment. Students are required to make presentation on the content of the following textbook in the class.

Textbooks:

J. Brickley, C. Smith and J.Zimmerman, Managerial Economics and Organizational Architecture, Fifth Edition, McGraw-Hill International Edition, 2009

Business Economics (3-weeks Course)

Textbooks:

Lamb, M., Lymer, A., Freedman, J. & James, S. (Eds) (2004) Taxation: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Research, Oxford University Press, USA

Reference Books:

Lymer, A. & Salter, S. (Eds) (2003) Contemporary Issues in Taxation Research

 (Business/Management Studies), Ashgate Pub Ltd, UK

Creswell, J.W. (2009) Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches, Sage Publications, Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA

Japanese Economy

(Fall; Year 1)

The objective of this course is to discuss and understand the developments in the Japanese economy and its policies from a global perspective.

The course will provide opportunities for students, especially for those coming from abroad, to examine various policy issues that have arisen in Japan in the last three decades. It will also provide opportunities for Japanese students to look at their own economy from a global perspective. The focus of the discussion will be less on theoretical and empirical aspects and more on understanding the economics, political, social as well as historical background of the current economic issues that are in the minds of the Japanese people today.

Textbook:

Cargill, Thomas F. and Takayuki Sakamoto, Japan since 1980, (Cambridge University Press, New York, 2008)

Domestic Tax Law

Textbooks:

Masatami Otsuka, Ichiro Otsuka, Eiichiro Nakatami, "Tax Law in Japan" (Kluwer Law International: ISBN. 90-411-2559-0

Reference Books:

Hugh Ault and Brian Arnold, "Comparative Income Taxation" 2010 Kluwer

National Tax Agency,“ National Tax Agency Report, 2011”
Go Kawada, "Guide to Japanese Taxes, 2010" Zaikei Shohosha

International Tax Law

(Fall; Year 1)

As the countries of the world have become increasingly integrated economically, the importance of the international taxation issues has mushroomed. Not only large multinational corporations but also small and medium size firms now engage in cross-border transactions that cause them international taxation issues. Accordingly, adequate tax planning is needed to minimize and avoid unnecessary taxes for taxpayers.

On the other hand, national governments must care about international taxation, both to present a hospitable environment for foreign investment and to protect their revenue base.
 

Textbooks:

Resume will be distributed

International Economy

(Spring; Year 1).

The objective of this course is to discuss and understand various international economic issues that are being addressed by policy makers, especially in Asia.
The course will take up specific issues that are relevant to the current global economic conditions and policies from an Asia perspective. Students will have the opportunity to study and deepen their knowledge of the challenges imposed on policy makers in the current globalized world. Issues discussed will be focused on those which are particularly relevant in the Asian context. The emphasis of the course will be placed more on what is happening in the real world and less on theoretical aspects of the issues. Class discussions will enable students to familiarize themselves with these issues and to engage in discussions in more informed and effective manner.

Textbook:

There will be no textbooks. Handouts and/or copies of background materials will be distributed from time to time. Students are expected to make presentations on his/her assigned papers and engage in active class discussions, which are conducted entirely English.

Accounting

(Fall; Year 1)

International Accounting Standards (IASs) was established in 2001, succeeding the role of International accounting Standards Committee (IASC) and have been developing International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) since the. It carries convergence projects with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) of United States based on MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) and considers new agenda items to be done with or after MoU projects.

We study existing IFRSs and IFRSs currently under development in comparison with US GAAP and Japanese GAAP.

Textbook:
Spiceland, J.D., and et al. (2012) "Intermediate Accounting: IFRS Edicion" 1st ed. McGrow Hill Higher Education

Reference Books:
The International Accounting Standards Board "2011 International Financial Reporting Standards" (PART A & PART B) 2011 The IFRS Foundation

Instruction on the use of other materials is given during the course.

Advanced Study of Finance

(Fall; Year 1 or 2)

Corporate Governance and Financial System
The governance structure of limited liability companies that stipulates the relationship among the management, stockholders, creditors, employees, suppliers and customers is important in determining the performance of the economy. Although the OECD countries are generally characterized as market economies, there are considerable differences among these countries in the organizational structure of the economy.
One of the major aims of this course is to understand the institutional differences in corporate-governance structures of companies in major industrial countries including the United States, Japan, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. The differences in the corporate-governance structure have a number of implications for the performance of companies. For example, the cost of capital and the effective use of human resources would be affected by this structure.
In recent years, the deepening international integration of economic activities has heightened awareness of cross-country differences in corporate-governance structure and is putting a strong pressure for convergence in some aspects of corporate governance systems. The course will also survey these trends.

Textbook, Reference Book:
Fukao, Mitsuhiro, Financial Integration, Corporate Governance, and the Performance of Multinational Companies, Brookings, 1995.

Advanced Study of Public Finance

Jean Hindriks and Gareth D. Myles, Intermediate Public Economics, The MIT Press
Joseph E. Stiglitz, Economics of the Public Sector, W. W. Norton

A.L.Hillman, Public Finance and Public Policy, Cambridge University Press

Covered Topics:
Chapter	Lecture Notes
1. Monetary and Fiscal Policy	(337KB)
2. Structure of the Budgetary Process	(207KB)
3. Revenue Forecasting	(192KB)
4. Public Debt	(229KB)
5. Cost-Benefit Analysis	(229KB)
6. Public Goods and Bads	(184KB)
7. Local Public Finance	(364KB)
8. Finance and Development	(300KB)
9. International Issues in Public Finance	(160KB)
10. Social Security	(181KB)

Advanced Study of Public Finance

Textbooks:
Lecture note is provided on website. (http://www.ier.hit-u.ac.jp/~kitamura/)

Jean Hindriks and Gareth D. Myles, Intermediate Public Economics, The MIT Press
Joseph E. Stiglitz, Economics of the Public Sector, W. W. Norton

A.B. Atkinson and J.E.Stiglitz, Lectures on Public Economics, McGraw-Hill

B. Salanié, The Economics of Taxation, The MIT Press

Covered Topics:
Chapter	Lecture Notes
1. A Framework of Taxation	(306KB)
2. Consumption Tax	(448KB)
3. Individual Income Taxation	(390KB)
4. Corporate Taxation	(387KB)
5. Capital Income Taxation	(217KB)
6. Inheritance and Gift Taxation	(216KB)
7. Tax Compliance and Evasion	(261KB)
8. Tax Reform	(307KB)
Appendix. Theoretical Background of Public Finance	(271KB)

Advanced Study of Tax Administration

Seminar: Public Finance

(Spring/Fall; Year 1 and 2)

Objective: To write, one research paper on the topics related to public finance as a term paper or a part of Master's thesis. The research paper must be clearly written (precise, crispy) and may not be too long (approximately 20 pages).

Teaching Method: Presentation of assigned papers/chapters of a book and discussion after presentation. Once each participant's research topic is selected, participant's own paper in progress is to be presented and discussed by me and other participants.

Possible Research Topics: The topic must be narrowly focused and well defined. The core idea must be something new and have some policy relevance.
Guidelines in Writing a Research Paper  (33KB)

• Fiscal Policy in the Process of Economic Development
  Provision of and effectiveness of social capital and infrastructure
• Consumption Tax versus Income Tax
  Means of raising revenue from taxation
• Economics of Tax Evasion
  How widely tax evasion prevails? What mechanism to prevent it?
• Debt Management Policy or Measurement of Public Deficits and its Implications
  What determines optimal debt management? How harmful public deficits in the conduct of fiscal policy?
• Social Security and Public Pension Design
  Intergenerational transfers and generational accounting
• Provision of Public Goods and Externalities
  Must transportation, housing, telecommunication, TV network, among others be provided publicly?
• Others

Textbooks:

Various academic papers

Seminar: Advanced Study of Taxation and Economic Policies

(Spring/Fall; Year 1 and 2)

This seminar will discuss various aspects of economic policy making in meeting the challenges from globalization. The goal is to broaden and deepen students' knowledge of and understanding on issues particularly related to tax and economic policies. Theoretical aspects as well as practical experiences of other countries in implementing tax policies will be studied. Issues that are currently being discussed at various international meetings will also be reviewed. The extensive discussions on these issues during the class will enable students to familiarize themselves with these issues and to engage in more informed and effective discussions. The emphasis of the course will be placed more on what is happening in the real world, especially in developing countries, and the discussions will be made from the perspective of policy makers.
 

Textbook:

There will be no textbooks; copies of required/recommended reading material will be distributed from time to time.

Seminar: Advanced Study of Tax Administration

Academic Writing

(Spring; Year 1 or 2)

At the graduate level, one must write many things including a Master's thesis, a PhD. dissertation, and journal articles. In this class, each student will work on their own writing project and , as a class, we will work on various aspects of the project each week.
 

Textbooks:

Handouts will be distributed.

Reference Books:

Oshima, Alice & Hogue, Ann (2005), Writing Academic English. Pearson ESL.

Yoshida, Tomoko (2006). アカデミック・ライティング入門　慶應義塾大学出版会

Business Communication

(Fall; Year 1 or 2)
 

In this course, we will look at the role culture plays in international businesses. Students will examine various cases, participate in simulations, deliver presentations, and join in class discussions.

Textbooks:

Handouts will be distributed in class.

Advanced Study of International Relations

The objective of the course is to discuss and deepen the understanding on policy implications of economic globalization and regional integration in Asia.

The course will provide opportunities for students to examine various aspects of policy issues that have arisen from the increased integration of economics and the emergence of many global issues. Students will review the challenges imposed on policymakers from globalization and explore ways to enhance international cooperation to meet these challenges, especially in the Asian context. Students will also have the opportunity to discuss the ongoing regional integration in Asia and compare the developments with those which took place in Europe.  Classroom discussions will enable students to familiarize themselves with the issues that are being discussed at various international meetings and to engage in more informed and effective discussions on these issues.

Textbook:

There will be no textbooks. Handouts and/or copies of background materials will be distributed from time to time. Students are expected to make presentations on topics assigned to them based on relevant papers and to engage in active classroom discussions, which are conducted entirely in English.

Advanced Study of International Economic Policy

Discuss some topics of international trade, with emphasis on policy issues: Trade policy, Preferential Trade Agreement, political economy of trade policy, trade policy in developing countries, and some controversies in trade policy. After this course, you will be able to analyze some international trade issues theoretically with confidence.

1. The Instruments of Trade Policy

2. The Political Economy of Trade Policy

3. Preferential Trade Agreement

4. Economies of Scale and International Trade

5. Trade Policy in Developing Countries

6. Controversies in Trade Policy

Reference Books:

Paul R. Krugman & Maurice Obstfeld, "International Economics: Theory and Policy, Nineth edition" (Pearson, 2011)

Japanese

(Spring/Fall)

This class is designed for the learner who is studying Japanese for the first time. The purpose of this class is for the student to be able to use Japanese in his/her everyday life as much as possible.