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Ongoing projects

Population Dynamics in Russia: Micro-Econometric and Micro-History Approaches (Grant-in-Aid for Scientifi c Research (B), FY2019-2023)

Conducted by Kazuhiro KUMO (principal investigator), Yuka TAKEDA, Noriko IGARASHI, Mayu MICHIGAMI.

This research is a cutting-edge analysis of population dynamics in Russia for international publication. Using individual responses from the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS) data on Russian households and the International Social Science Program (ISSP) and focusing on the population economics, labor economics, and sociological perspectives, this study will analyze the relationships between (1) the birth rate and such micro-level factors as household division of labor and household consumption; (2) the death rate and such micro-characteristics as individual habits and lifestyles; and (3) individual and household characteristics and regional/ international migration. The objective is to develop an analysis that integrates the aspects of "gender and birth rate," "the historical chronology of the death rate," and "micro characteristics and population migration," which have all been lacking in previous analyses of Russian population dynamics and also have tended to be investigated individually. The study also seeks to provide a foundation for micro-econometric analysis of the behavior of individuals and households in Russia.

The Russian State, Regions, and Corporate Society under the Economic Sanctions: Japan-Russia-US International Joint Research Project (Grant-in-Aid for Fostering Joint International Research B, FY2019-2023)

Conducted by Ichiro IWASAKI (principal investigator), Yuko ADACHI, Norio HORIE, and Yoshisada SHIDA.

In the framework of the project, we will carry out open-end interviews with Russian officials, corporate managers, and academic researchers as well as a large-scale nation-wide questionnaire survey of Russian company executives. After these on-site surveys, we will construct theoretical models and hypotheses regarding the structural and institutional changes in the Russian state, regions, corporate society and internal organizations of companies and empirically verify them basing on the results obtained from the surveys. The project team consists of 4 Japanese researchers and 3 foreign collaborators from Russia and the United States. The project originally aims to investigate the structural and institutional changes in the Russian state, regions, and corporate society under the economic sanctions. Given the unprecedented event in 2020, however, we will also study the impacts of the COVID-19 shock on the Russian society and economy. Columbia University (US) and National Research University - Higher School of Economics (Russia) are oversea partners of this project.

Comparative Analysis of Corporate Systems in China and Eastern Europe (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research B, FY2020-2024)

Conducted by Ichiro IWASAKI (principal investigator) and others.

This project is designed to perform a comparative institutional analysis of Chinese and East European corporations. China and East European countries including Russia have made great steps from the planned system to a market economy during the last three decades. At the same time, however, there exists notable differences in the path of systemic transformation between the two regions. This gap may have significant impacts on enterprise reforms in these post-communist economies. In course of this project, the research team will make several attempts to elucidate the differences in corporate systems in China and East European countries by conducting microeconomic empirical analysis including met a-analysis and survival analysis. The project also plans to cast a focus on the negative impacts of the COVID-19 shock on corporate management in these countries.

Political Meaning of Freedom of Economic Activity in Soviet Socialism (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C), FY2022-2024)

Conducted by Kazuko KAWAMOTO (principal investigator).

The post-Stalinist Soviet government sought to improve the standard of living of the people, and this did indeed lead to higher levels of consumption and greater freedom of choice in consumption than before. While this policy of prosperity and freedom was justified by socialist ideals, it was also subject to certain constraints, both ideological and from the realities of the planned economy. In this study, I first analyze the installment sales system that was introduced to increase purchasing power and clarify to whom and in what form the improved consumption opportunities were distributed. Furthermore, through an analysis of economic activities that were considered illegal or inappropriate under socialism, I will also clarify how and on what basis freedom was restricted. Through these findings I will attempt to approach the characteristics of the socialist system in the Soviet Union.