Recent Research
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Event Date Remark
A 4-year research project on Proactive Industrial Policy (Japanese government research grant) FY2010-FY2013 GRIPS Dev. Forum received a research grant to define, compare and disseminate the idea of PIP as an industrial policy package suited to the globalization age.
Visiting Deutsches Institut fur Entwicklungspolitik (German Development Institute) in Bonn Nov. 2009 GRIPS Dev. Forum participated in DIE's conference on industrial policies and explored the possibilities of Japan-German intellectual cooperation.
Thailand and Malaysia policy research trips (industrial human resources, supporting industry promotion) Oct. 2009-Jan. 2010 As part of JICA project to assist VN's industrial capability building, VDF visited two countries and wrote an English report. Concrete policy measures were discussed.
A sub-study group on the Industrial Corridor Approach in Asia (Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) Aug. 2009-Mar. 2010 METI is considering an integrated approach, based on PPP, to create active industrial areas within Asia (Vietnam, India, etc.). I was asked to chair this sub-study group.
Vietnam: the risk of a middle income trap and how to avoid it. Aug. 2010 I was asked to give a series of seminars on this topic to the drafting organizations of Vietnam's SEDS (10-year strategy) in Hanoi.
A booklet on the Middle Income Trap. Mar. 2009 My 4 articles were combined in book form, which attracted interest among Vietnamese policy makers (including DPM Nguyen Sinh Hung). Fuller versions will be published later.
GRIPS-JICA Policy Dialogue and Kaizen Project in Ethiopia Jun. 2009-Mar. 2011 (preparation from Sep. 2009) GRIPS Dev. Forum (our team) was asked to hold policy dialogue every 3 months and JICA was asked to cooperate with kaizen and other projects (ongoing)
Initiative for Policy Dialogue African Taskforce in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (hosted by J. Stiglitz, financed by JICA, attended by PM Meles Zenawi) Jul. 2008 We presented the concept of dynamic capacity building in East Asia. After the conference, PM Meles asked JICA and GRIPS to start a new project in Ethiopia.
A symposium on the policy direction of Vietnam, which recently joined the middle income country group, in Hanoi (co-hosted by Vietnam Dev. Forum and Institute of Economics) Mar. 2008 Vietnam's new industrial policy orientation as well as how to cope with income gaps, inflation, traffic jams and environmental damage were discussed. A large number of eminent Vietnamese economists attended.
A book launch in ODI, London: Diversity and Complementarity in Development Aid: East Asian Lessons for African Growth. Mar. 2008 This is a collaborative book between Japan and Britain, initiated by our GRIPS Dev. Forum. PM Meles of Ethiopia read Ch.7 and asked for a "kaizen" project in his country.
A proposal for a new direction for Japan's cooperation for African growth (prior to TICAD IV meeting in Yokohama). Feb. 2008 Several stakeholder meetings were held, then a booklet was compiled in English and Japanese. Four entry points for were proposed, which continue to be used for our policy dialogue with Africa.
3 visits to Zambia to discuss industrial policy formulation, explain Japanese/E. Asian experiences, propose the next action, and inspect factories. Sep.-Dec. 2007 Several seminars and symposiums were held. Trade and Industry Minister Mutati asked me to write a concept paper on what to do next. But no follow-up.
IEA Roundtable Conference on the Political Economy of Sustainable Growth, Tsinghua University, Beijing Jul.10-11, 2007 I presented a paper on authoritarian developmentalism and democratic developmentalism.  paper  slides
Lectures on business architecture for Vietnam's Industry Minister, Hoang Trung Hai, by Prof. Takahiro Fujimoto and myself, Hanoi Jun.11, 2007 At the request of the Ministry of Industry of Hanoi. Sponsored by VDF. Also visited Canon Factory in Thang Long Industrial Park, Hanoi.
Third VDF Tokyo Conference on the Development of Vietnam at GRIPS Jul.2, 2006 Special guest: Dr. Adam McCarty (Mekong Economics)
Editing Building Supporting Industries in Vietnam, vol.1 (VDF) Mar. 2007 Produced for industrial policy makers in Vietnam. The Vietnamese edition also available.
The Vietnamese edition of The Economic Development of Japan (VDF) Mar. 2007 VDF staff translated and Ms. Vu Thi Hang supervised the production.
Aid strategy research mission to the United Kingdom with other members of GRIPS Dev. Forum Feb.13-20, 2007 Presentations at DFID, ODI and Sussex. Also visited Oxford, SOAS, etc.
Receiving three groups of Japanese experts to Hanoi for drafting the motorbike master plan Jan.-Mar. 2007 Experts on air pollution, supporting industries, and intellectual property.
Editing Business Environment and Policies of Hanoi (Publishing House of Social Labour) Dec. 2006 VDF research conducted for the Hanoi People's Committee. Symposium held on Dec. 20, 2006.
Co-editing (with Prof. Takahiro Fujimoto) Industrialization of Developing Countries: Analyses by Japanese Economists (21st Century COE Program) Dec. 2006 Publishing the presentations and discussions at the joint GRIPS-Tokyo Univ. conference, July 13, 2006. The Japanese and English editions available.
Second VDF Tokyo Conference on the Development of Vietnam at GRIPS Jul.15, 2006 Special guest: Prof. David Dapice (Harvard University)
Joint COE conference on Japan and industrialization of developing countries, at GRIPS Jul.13, 2006 Co-hosted by GRIPS Development Forum and the Tokyo University COE program led by Prof. T. Fujimoto.
Editing the book, Industrial Policy Formulation in Thailand, Malaysia and Japan: Lessons for Vietnamese Policy Makers (Publishing House of Social Labour) Jun. 2006 Based on VDF missions to three countries conducted in 2005 and 2006. The Vietnamese edition also available.
The Chinese edition of The Economic Development of Japan (China CITIC Press) May 2006 Ms. Xiaomeng (Journal of Comparative Studies) was instrumental in issuing this edition.
The English edition of The Economic Development of Japan (GRIPS) Mar. 2006 This is the textbook of the GRIPS course with the same course title.
Supporting the drafting of Vietnam's motorbike master plan Mar.2006- May 2007 VDF asked by Vietnam's Ministry of Industry to become a facilitator to draft a master plan.
Hearing of Japanese FDI firms in Hanoi and HCM City (coordinated by VDF) Feb.-Mar. 2006 This is an attempt to hear business opinions in drafting Vietnam's supporting industries master plan.
Joint mission to Malaysia to study the formulation of Industrial Master Plan (IMP) 2 and 3 Jan.9-13, 2006 Part of VDF's joint research with Vietnam's Ministry of Industry.
Preliminary mission with Dr. Kiyoshi Wada to study social aspects of drug/HIV problems in Vietnam Jun.27-Jul.1, 2005 Dr. Wada is the director of Drug Dependence Research Division, National Institute of Mental Health, Tokyo.
VDF Tokyo Conference on the Development of Vietnam at GRIPS Jun.18, 2005 Speeches by Prof. K Ohno (GRIPS) & Prof. Shiraishi (Waseda Univ.) followed by presentations by Vietnamese; also research displays. program etc
Joint mission to Japan by VDF and Vietnam's Ministry of Industry (MOI) to Japan to study industrial policy formulation May 30-Jun.3, 2005 Part of VDF's joint research with MOI to enhance Vietnam's industrial policy capability. mission purpose
VDF conference on industrial policy formulation in Hanoi Mar.24, 2005 Hosted by VDF. Hoang Trung Hai (Minister of Industry) and K Ohno were the key speakers. web
Tojokoku Nippon no Ayumi (The Path Traveled by Japan as a Developing Country), Yuhikaku, Tokyo, 2,300 yen + tax Feb. 2005 The content is almost (85%) the same as the course, Economic Development of Japan, in this web.
Editing Improving industrial policy formulation, Publishing House of Political Theory, Hanoi Feb. 2005 Book containing nine industrial research papers at VDF. English and Vietnamese.  download
Managing research at Vietnam Development Forum (VDF) in Hanoi Since 2003 Part of the 21st Century Center of Excellence (COE) research program funded by Monbu Kagakusho (MEXT). web1  web2