Research Interest

Economic Growth, Technical Progress

GDP per capita is a measure of the standard of living in a country, and its proportional increase is an economic growth rate. If real GDP per capita is 100 today and grows at 2 percent per year, it increases by a factor of 7 to about 725 after 100 years. In the case of the 3 percent growth rate, it rises to 1922, which is 19 times as high as the starting level. This simple calculation indicates that a small difference in growth rate matters a lot. Figure 1 shows the distribution of average growth rates of 123 countries in 1951-2017 (Japan grew at 4.4 percent）, and the difference between the max and the min is 8.05 percent. It is not difficult to imagine that income inequality would increase if the trend is extrapolated to the future. Then, what causes such a small difference in growth rates? What is the mechanism behind it? These are the questions which are closely related to my research. In particular, I am interested in the role of technical progress as an engine of growth.

Lectures and Seminars

Teaching Experience

Topics in Macroeconomics (Graduate/Postgraduate)
This is a course on a selection of macroeconomic issues and is offered in English. Why are some countries richer than others? Why are growth rates different across countries? These are important questions in macroeconomics and will be explored in the course. In lectures, a series of theoretical models are developed, starting from basic growth models to more sophisticated ones with an emphasis on the role of technical progress, which interacts with physical and human capital accumulation, institutions, education, and others.

Seminars (Undergraduate)

There are three main objectives.
(1) To improve English speaking ability through presentations and Q&A sessions on economic issues.
Speaking ability is widely considered to be important, and at the same time, is often said to be more difficult to acquire than reading, writing, and listening. This class offers an opportunity for students to practice speaking through 5-minute presentations. Students will be advised on pronunciation and ways of speaking, if necessary.

(2) To learn the basics of Python.
Students will learn how to write basic codes using Python, which is a general-purpose programming language. One objective is to conduct a simple empirical project using Python. English resources (e.g., datacamp.com) will be used.

(3) To write a dissertation (fourth-year students).
Students will write a graduation dissertation on a topic they choose. If empirical estimation is included, students are expected to use Python.

Seminars (Graduate/Postgraduate)

Major Topics: Economic growth and macroeconomic dynamics
Minor Topics: Technical progress, international trade
Students are expected to work on the above topics and related areas in master and Ph.D. theses. In class, students make presentations on textbooks and research papers and are expected to read them in advance. Topics other than those mentioned above can also be considered. Given that theoretical approach is emphasized, students are strongly encouraged to take Macroeconomics IA and IB and Microeconomics IA and IB. Japanese and English both are used.

Education and Positions

BSc Honors (Economics), University of Warwick
M.Phil. (Economics), University of Oxford
D.Phil. (Economics), University of Oxford
Senior Lecturer/Lecturer, Department of Economics, University of Glasgow
Professor, Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University

Main Publications

1. “Technological Progress and Unemployment: An Efficiency Wage Perspective,” (with Campbell Leith), Japanese Economic Review, forthcoming.
2. “R&D Policy in a Volatile Economy,” Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, 2009 (October), vol.33, issue 10, pp.1761-1778.
3. “Competitive Innovation with Codified and Tacit Knowledge,” Scottish Journal of Political Economy, 2009 (September), vol.56, issue 4, pp.390-414.
4. “Do Distortionary Taxes Always Harm Growth?” (with Jun-ichi Itaya), Journal of Economics, 2006 (March), vol.87, number 2, pp.99-126.
5. “Political Uncertainty, Public Expenditure, and Growth,” (with Julia Darby and Anton Muscatelli), European Journal of Political Economy, 2004 (March), vol.20, issue 1, pp.153-179.
6. “Endogenous Growth without Scale Effects: A Comment,” American Economic Review, 2003 (June), vol.93, pp.1009-1018.

Message

“The conventional view serves to protect us from the painful job of thinking.” John Kenneth Galbraith (economist, 1908 – 2006)

Contact

E-mail

haruyama(at)econ.kobe-u.ac.jp

TEL/FAX

TEL : 078－803-6807　　FAX : 078－803-6807