Sasahara Seminar - Study plans

Subjects

We will study a variety of topics on international trade and international macroeconomics. The zemi is designed to help you learn empirical methods and theoretical models necessary for understanding academic articles in international economics. We focus on data and empirical methods, which are both practical and useful due to an increasing demand for this knowledge in the private and public sectors as well as academia.

Goals

After successfully completing the two year zemi, students will be able to (1) demonstrate their knowledge of international economics; (2) critically read other researchers' empirical studies on the subject; (3) write their own academic articles; and (4) present their work in front of academic and non-academic audiences in an engaging manner.

Students should aim to write high-quality graduation theses that are comparable with honors theses in top schools in the U.S.

Learning approach

In each Wednesday class, three individual students will give presentations using slides. Each student will prepare a 20 minute presentation. Each presentation will have an additional 10 minute time allowance for questions. The audience is strongly encouraged to ask questions during the presentation. Articles will be chosen from, for example, the Journal of Economic Perspectives, IZA World of Labor, the Annual Review of Economics, and VOX CEPR Policy Portal. Additionally, we will use the textbook, Introductory Econometrics: A Modern Approach by Jeffery Wooldridge, to learn econometrics

Plans

Our zemi consists of Type A/B students and PEARL students. Because the school year starts at different times for each program, our study plans follow the 'overlapping-generation' model described in the figure below.

Activities by Type A/B students are described in orange.
Activities by PEARL students are described in blue.
Joint activities by Type A/B and PEARL students are described in purple.
Individual work is described in the white box.

Period 1: In April, Type A/B students will start their activities. They will present non-technical academic articles in front of peers, other newly joined Type A/B students and 3rd year PEARL students.

Period 2: During Summer break, Type A/B students and PEARL students will jointly work on Mita-sai theses. It will be group work and each group will have 3-4 students. The topics will be given by the faculty advisor. Because students do not have adequate empirical skills at this point in time, the Mita-sai thesis will be a survey paper summarizing previous studies on the given research topic. Each student is expected to spend 12-24 hours during the Summer break and an additional 12-24 hours after the start of the Fall semester to complete a thesis and presentation materials.

Period 3: During the Fall semester, Type A/B students and PEARL students will learn econometrics. In addition, each student will present academic articles in front of peers two or three times during the semester.

Papers due before Mita-sai will be neither theory-based nor data-based but rather survey papers summarizing previous studies. Papers due after Mita-sai will include empirical papers because by this point in the semester, students should have a better understanding of this subject. Due to the fact that papers after Mita-sai will be heavier in econometrics, each class will have two student presentations rather than three.

On Wednesdays, senior students and the faculty advisor will lecture on econometrics. The lectures will be focusing on applications of empirical methods to data. After completing the lectures, students will work on term papers by applying the empirical methods to data in groups.

Period 4: During Spring break, Type A/B students and PEARL students will jointly work on term papers in groups. Each group of 3-4 students will decide their research topic on their own and apply empirical methods to analyze data and give interpretations.

In the Spring semester, each group will continue to work on their projects. They will give presentations and receive feedback. Completed term papers will be presented in inter-seminar events scheduled in June/July.

Period 5: During Summer break, students will start working on their graduation theses individually. They will decide their research topics on their own. Students are strongly encouraged to work with data to answer their research questions. They will receive advice and feedback from peers and the faculty advisor. Type A/B students are expected to complete their graduation theses by early January.

Period 6: During the Spring semester, PEARL students will continue to work on their graduation theses. They will give advice to junior students and newly admitted Type A/B students. PEARL students are expected to complete their theses by early July.

Credits

After successfully completing the two-year zemi program, students will earn 12 credits total.

Activities

Regular meetings

Main zemi: Wednesdays, 4th and 5th periods

Required and encouraged courses

Zemi students are required to take the following courses junior year.

International Trade A, Fall, taught by Akira
International Trade B, Spring, taught by Akira

If the student did not take the following course while in Hiyoshi, it is encouraged (not required) to take the course.

Economies and Societies in Globalization, Fall, taught by Akira

If the student is interested in going to graduate school, it is encouraged (not required) to take the following course senior year.

Topics in International Economics (graduate), Fall, taught by Akira

While we expect to follow these study plans, these plans are subject to change. The faculty advisor will always be open to accommodate students' needs and requests.

Sasahara Seminar, Faculty of Economics, Keio University