Description

Welcome to the Japanese branch of the Development Micro-econometrics Study Group. 

Our primary focus is on development economics, approached through micro-econometrics. Our goal is to enhance our understanding of economics, specifically development-related issues, and incorporate this knowledge into our research. We hold weekly meetings in a hybrid format, both in-person and via Zoom, adapting to the needs and constraints of our current participants.

Our flexible, demand-driven structure has allowed us to accommodate members from diverse backgrounds, such as undergraduate, master's, and Ph.D. students, as well as professors from universities in Tokyo. We also have members from various disciplines, including economics and engineering majors, and students from both the Tokyo and Kansai areas.

Initially, two alumni began meeting to co-read papers from a development economics course at the University of Tokyo. The group soon expanded, formally launching as a regular study group in the summer of 2020. Since then, we have leveraged the wisdom of crowds to study economics and econometrics, and discuss our projects.

Our primary focus is on reviewing academic articles, especially those published in top-tier journals. Additionally, we explore textbooks and alternative resources for methodology. Past materials covered include Imbens and Rubin (2015), books on the theory and practice of RDD, and spatial analysis with R. We also dedicate meetings to members' research presentations, offering an informal environment for constructive feedback. You can find our past schedule in the spreadsheet below.

We welcome any contributors or students passionate about writing academic papers to improve the well-being of impoverished and socially vulnerable individuals in developing countries. Please feel free to contact us via X (ex-Twitter), or at dmeconsg@gmail.com. While our discussions typically assume a graduate-level understanding of first-year economics coursework, we remain flexible, adapting to the participants and topics (indeed, we currently have several undergraduate members).

Don't hesitate to reach out to us!