This course covers interdisciplinary research topics in economic development, such as health, gender, non-cognitive skills, and community. Each topic consists of two sections. In the first section, we comprehensively review the broad literature in economics and related fields, such as sociology and psychology. The goal of this section is to understand various socio-economic issues in developing countries comprehensively. In the second section, we focus on a few recent empirical papers and discuss the details, such as their contributions to the literature, econometric methodology, and policy implications. This section aims to learn how to read and write academic papers rigorously. This course is for a broad range of students who are interested in any careers related to international development, including development practitioners and researchers.
Introduction
History of Economic Development / The Economic Lives of the Poor / MDGs and SDGs / This Course
Health
What is Health? Why Should We Care? / Measuring Health / Macro-Trend and Determinants of Mortality / Son Preference and Missing Women / Micro-Determinants of Health / Reproductive Health / Impact of Child Health on Adult Outcomes / Mental Health / Readings: Son Preference and Reproductive Health / Readings: Child Health and Adult Outcomes
Non-Cognitive Skill, Personality, and Preference
What Is Non-Cognitive Skill? / Big 5 / Locus of Control / Self-Control / Scarcity Theory / Social Preference / Readings: Self-Control and Commitment Device / Readings: Guilt Aversion
Gender and Development
Why Should We Care? / Dowry and Bride-Price / Child Marriage / Violence against Women: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) / Violence against Women: Femicide / Violence against Women: Sex Trafficking / Measuring Gender Inequality / Policies to Empower Women / Readings: Schooling
Social Capital
What Is Social Capital? Why Should We Care? / Types of Social Capital / Measuring Social Capital / Impact of Social Capital / Formation Process of Social Capital / Readings: Mass Media and Decline in Social Capital / Summary and Discussion
Student Presentations
The other development economics classes offered at the University of Tokyo (link to a portal site of development economics network at the University of Tokyo)
Interdisciplinary Issues in Development Economics (2021~) (Graduate School of Economics, University of Tokyo)
家計とコミュニティの開発経済学 (2020) (Graduate School of Economics, University of Tokyo)
庄司ゼミ (Advanced Development Economics) (Seijo University, 2009~2022)
開発経済学 I (Development Economics I) (Seijo University, 2009~2024)
開発経済学 II (Development Economics II) (Seijo University, 2009~2023)
応用経済学特別講義I: 自然災害の経済学 (Economics of Post-Disaster Rehabilitation) (Seijo University, 2014~2016)
データ解析入門I, II (Introductory Data Analysis I, II) (Seijo University, 2009, 2010, 2012)
経済学講義演習 II (Introductory Macro Economics) (Seijo University, 2010, 2011)
If you are interested in writing a master's thesis under my supervision, please contact me via e-mail to make an appointment during or before the guidance period.
Yu Osaki (GSE), "Does the Coup d’etat Affect Political Attitudes in Neighboring Countries? Evidence from the 2008 Guinean Coup" (2024)
Sakina Fukuya (GraSPP), "The Impact of Natural Disasters on Unintended Pregnancy among Never-Married Women in Malawi" (2023)
June Patrick Bulaon (GraSPP), "Fetal Origins of Implicit Theories of Intelligence: Evidence from Tropical Cyclones in the Philippines" (2021)
Published version: Bulaon, J. P. R., and Shoji, M. (2025) "Disaster Exposure in Childhood and Adult Noncognitive Skill: Evidence from the Philippines," Japanese Economic Review, forthcoming.