Waseda Institute of Social and Human Capital Studies (WISH)

Research theme

Empirical and Theoretical Research for Social Welfare in Sustainable Society:Inheritance of Human Capital beyond “an Individual” and “a Generation”

Overview of Research

 With the rapid declining birth rate of the population, the refugee problem has been getting worse in Europe and the United States that have accepted immigrants as labor force. Also, in most OECD countries, the poverty rate of children is higher than the poverty rate of society as a whole and it is increasing.Since the latter half of the 20th century, the slowdown in economic growth in developed regions has spurred the dramatic change in demographic dynamics, and furthermore the sustainability of public assistance and cooperation functions that have been enriched under the pattern of nationalism It is being compromised. Currently, these various factors cause poverty and inequality that impede the accumulation process of HC, as well as causing conflicts among people, causing negative chains beyond ‘individual’ and ‘generation’. Such social unrest is probably a common problem on a global scale in the 21st century.
 Therefore, at the Waseda Institute of Social and Human Capital Studies (WISH), how human capital (HC) represented by education and health is accumulated as “individuals” and ” Socio-economic status (socio-economic status) “through the utilization of quantitative and qualitative big data and field surveys and experiments on how essential the mechanism is inherited beyond” individual “and” generation ” We conduct verification from both aspects of demonstration and theory against various hypotheses focusing on the relevance between SES and social capital (SC) and HC. The theme of WISH is an urgent policy issue that the international community must face, and it is also a medium- and long-term task indispensable for seeking a way of sustainable social system for human society. Concerning about the fact that there is a significant correlation with education · health and SES representing HC, as a result of research through modern times, consensus is generally obtained among researchers. However, a firm conclusion on the question as to what kind of various factors correlate with our HC through what kind of mechanism, and what is the significance and magnitude of the influence , Neither theoretically nor empirical results have been obtained. In addition, while conventional human capital theory clarifies the accumulation process of HC closed to individuals, HC accumulated in “individual” exceeds “individual” and “generation” , and community and human society It is not said that it gives sufficient answers to the problem consciousness whether it is inherited to SC and contributes to accumulation of SC. There is a high possibility that HC has an external effect and it is likely to be accumulated too small. As long as the accumulation of HC is regulated by individuals, the disparity between those that can efficiently accumulate HC and those that cannot accumulate HC is expanded , Is not it one of the major causes of social unrest and conflict in the present age?
  Based on the above-mentioned problem awareness, WISH has been working on concrete subjects such as “medical care / nursing care” , “education” , “environment”, “development” etc. from accumulation of SC to accumulation of HC, It aims to find the key of a two-way door from the accumulation of HC to the accumulation of SC.

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What's new!

2020.9.20
“Spillover effects of minimum wages on suicide mortality: Quasi-experimental evidence from Japan” by Mr. Yuji Mizushima, a graduate student of Master Program of Economics (Class of 2018), was awarded “Dean of Graduate School of Economics Award” (For the abstract of the thesis, please see the page of master's thesis)
2020.9.5
“Does income affect medical care and long-term care expenditure for the elderly?: Evidence from claims data of a municipality in Japan” by Ms. Mayumi Imahori (co-authors: Takashi Kurihara, Haruko Noguchi), a PhD student of Graduate School of Economics, was awarded “Conference Article Award” at 15th Annual Conference of Japan Health Economics Association.
2019.12.12
2nd Asian Workshop on Econometrics and Health Economics (AWEHE) will be held at Grand Park Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan (12/8-10). Please click here.
2019.12.12
Waseda Institute of Social & Human Capital Studies (WISH),Positive/Empirical Analysis of Political Economy, Waseda University and the WINPEC Public Opinion Survey Methodology Research Group is organizing a seminar with Professor Jonathan Skinner (Dartmouth College)on December 12(Thus). Please click here .
2019.12.10
Dr. Rong Fu, Assistant Professor of Faculty of Political Science and Economics, was awarded a discussant award at the 2nd Asian Workshop on Econometrics and Health Economics.
2019.11.20
The 3rd Winter Meeting of the Japanese Society for Quantitative Political Science is coming from Jan 4-5. Click here for more info.
2019.11.13
Dr. Rong Fu, Assistant Professor of Faculty of Political Science and Economics presented a paper entitled “Established: Demographic and socioeconomic determinants of living alone in Sweden and Japan (collaborators:Dr. Glenn Sandström and Dr. Mojgan Padyab of Umeå universitet, Sweden)” at MIRAI Ageing Seminar in Stockholm University, Sweden.
2019.9.7
“How Does the Natural Disaster Affect Parents’ Labor Force Participation and Children’s Outcomes?” by Mr. Shuhei Keneko, a master student of Graduate School of Economics, was awarded “Best Presentation Award for Younger Scholars” at the 14th Annual Conference of Japan Health Economics Association in Tokyo-Akasaka Campus, International University of Health and Welfare.
2019.9.7
Mr. Yichen Shen, a PhD student of Graduate School of Economics presented a paper entitled “The Impact of the Coverage of Smoking Cessation Aids on Marijuana Use Outcomes (co-author: Haruko Noguchi)” at the 14th Annual Conference of Japan Health Economics Association in Tokyo-Akasaka Campus, International University of Health and Welfare.
2019.7.27
Mr. Yuji Mizushima, a master student of Graduate School of Economics and his team members from undergraduate (Name of Team: SURGE) won Japan Association of Political Economy Awards at 1st Data Science Competition to predict the results of House of Councillors election on 21st of July, at Waseda University in Tokyo.
2019.7.17
Mr. Yuichi Watanabe, a PhD student of Graduate School of Economics presented a paper entitled “Do Health Checkups Reduce Costs and Utilization of Healthcare? Evidence from a Local Municipality in Japan (co-authors: Haruko Noguchi, Nobuyuki Izumida)” at World Congress of International Health Economics Association (iHEA) in Basel, Switzerland.
2019.7.16
Mr. Yichen Shen, a PhD student of Graduate School of Economics presented a paper entitled “How Does the Introduction of the Oral Chemotherapy Drug Parity Laws Affect the Health Outcomes Among Cancer Patients in the United States? (co-author: Haruko Noguchi)” at a poster session of World Congress of International Health Economics Association (iHEA) in Basel, Switzerland.
2019.7.15
Mr. Shuhei Kaneko, a master student of Graduate School of Economics presented a paper entitled “Kill Two Issues with One Stone -Simple Methodology for Dealing with Sample Selection and Endogenous Regressor (The Case of Mental Health and Labor Productivity)-(co-author: Haruko Noguchi)” at World Congress of International Health Economics Association (iHEA) in Basel, Switzerland.
2019.7.15
Dr. Cheolmin Kang, Associate Researcher of Waseda Institute of Political Economy (WINPEC) presented a paper entitled “Does Free Healthcare Affect Children’s Healthcare Use and Outcomes? Evidence from Japan’s Medical Subsidy for Infants and Children (co-authors: Akira Kawamura, Haruko Noguchi)” at World Congress of International Health Economics Association (iHEA) in Basel, Switzerland.
2019. 7.13
Dr. Rong Fu, Assistant Professor of Faculty of Political Science and Economics presented a paper entitled “How Did Hospitals Respond to Prospective Payment System under the Japanese Universal Healthcare System? (co-author: Haruko Noguchi)” at Pre-Congress and Sponsored Sessions: Early Career Researcher (ECR) Pre-Congress Session I of World Congress of International Health Economics Association (iHEA) in Basel, Switzerland.
2019.7.2
Registration form for 2nd Asian Workshop on Econometrics and Health Economics (AWEHE) is ready now. Please click here.
2019.7.1
“Toward the implementation of scientific evidence to real health care policy -utilization of big data by the integration of social science, science, and engineering-” was adopted as one of Challenging Research (Pioneering) (FY2019 – FY2022).
2019.6.16
Dr. Cheolmin Kang, Associate Researcher of Waseda Institute of Political Economy (WINPEC) presented a paper entitled “Does Free Healthcare Affect Children’s Healthcare Use and Outcomes? Evidence from Japan’s Medical Subsidy for Infants and Children (co-authors: Akira Kawamura, Haruko Noguchi)” at 2019 Asian Meeting of the Econometric Society in Xiamen, China.
2019.6.14
Dr. Masato Oikawa, Postdoctoral Fellow (PD) of Faculty of Political Science and Economics presented a paper entitled “Effects of the Health Checkup on the Health Outcomes and Behaviors: Heterogeneous Effects Depending on Education” at 2019 Asian Meeting of the Econometric Society in Xiamen, China.
2019.6.9
Dr. Rong Fu, Assistant Professor of Faculty of Political Science and Economics presented a paper entitled “How Did Hospitals Respond to Prospective Payment System under the Japanese Universal Healthcare System? (co-author: Haruko Noguchi)” at 2019 Spring Meeting of Japan Economic Association in Musashi University, Tokyo.
2019.5.13
We presented a paper entitled “Differences in Cancer Patients’ Work-Cessation Risk, based on Gender and Type of Job: Examination of Middle-Aged and Older Adults in Super-Aged Japan” at University of Waseda Day in Universität Bonn, Germany. This study is financially supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research Project funded by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (FY2017 – FY2018).
2019.4.1
“Creation and implementation of scientific basis for children's human capital: Development of policy evaluation process by government-academic collaboration” was adopted as one of Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A) (FY2019 – FY2021).
2019.3.25
“Does Traditional Price Policy Work for Achieving Low Smoking Rate? -Empirical and Theoretical Evaluation Based on the United States Aggregate Data- (co-author: Haruko Noguchi)” by Mr. Shuhei Kaneko, a master student of Graduate School of Economics, was awarded VASEDA VNIVERSITAS PALMA IN MEMORIAM AZVSAONO (“Ono Azusa Kinen Gakujutsu Sho” in Japanese).
2019.3.22
“Empirical evaluation for socio-economic impacts of the prevention policy of lifestyle related disease across different industries and regions” was adopted as one of Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research Project funded by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (FY2019 – FY2021).
2019.3.19
Mr. Shuhei Kaneko, a master student of Graduate School of Economics presented a paper entitled “Insurance, Self-Protection, and Son Preference: Evidence from New Cooperative Medical Scheme in China” at 13th Workshop on Empirical Studies for Moral Science in Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University.
2019.3.19
Dr. Rong Fu, Assistant Professor of Faculty of Political Science and Economics presented a paper entitled “How does parental leave affect employment and fertility of new mothers in Japan? (co-author: Haruko Noguchi)” at 13th Workshop on Empirical Studies for Moral Science in Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University.
2019.3.19
Dr. Cheolmin Kang, Associate Researcher of Waseda Institute of Political Economy (WINPEC) presented a paper entitled “Does Free Healthcare Affect Children’s Healthcare Use and Outcomes? Evidence from Japan’s Medical Subsidy for Infants and Children (co-authors: Akira Kawamura, Haruko Noguchi)” at 13th Workshop on Empirical Studies for Moral Science in Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University.
2019.2.19
“Moral Hazard under Zero Price Policy: Evidence from Japanese Long-term Care Claims Data (co-author: Haruko Noguchi) ” by Dr. Rong Fu, Assistant Professor of Faculty of Political Science and Economics are accepted by The European Journal of Health Economics.
2019.1.18
Data Science Week@Waseda is coming from Jan 28-Feb 1.
Click here for more info.
2019.1.9
Does Traditional Price Policy Work for Achieving Low Smoking Rate? -Empirical and Theoretical Evaluation Based on the United States Aggregate Data- (co-author: Haruko Noguchi) ” by Mr. Shuhei Kaneko, a master student of Graduate School of Economics are accepted by Applied Economics.
2018.12.14
Prof. Ryuichi Tanka (The University of Tokyo), Adjunct Researcher of WISH presented a paper entitled “Do Teachers Matter for Academic Achievement of Students? Evidence from Administrative Panel Data (co-authors: Shun-ichiro Bessho, Akira Kawamura, Haruko Noguchi, Koichi Ushijima)” at The Asian and Australasian Society of Labour Economics (AASLE) in Seoul National University.
2018.12.10
1st Waseda-Keio Mini-Conference on Economics of Healthcare Systems was held in Waseda University.
2018.12.10
Dr. Rong Fu, Assistant Professor of Faculty of Political Science and Economics presented a paper entitled “How does parental leave affect employment and fertility of new mothers in Japan? (co-author: Haruko Noguchi)” at 1st Asian Workshop on Econometrics and Health Economics (AWEHE), Kyoto Tokyu Hotel. We really appreciate Prof. Randall Ellis (Boston University) to provide us valuable comments as a discussant.
2018.12.3
Now, the program, paper abstracts, and list of attendants are available for 1st Asian Workshop on Econometrics and Health Economics held from 12/9-11 at Kyoto Tokyu Hotel.
2018.11.24
Dr. Cheolmin Kang, Associate Researcher of Waseda Institute of Political Economy (WINPEC) presented a paper entitled “The Effect of Free Health Care on Utilization and Health among Children: Evidence from the Medical Subsidy for Children in Japan (co-authors: Akira Kawamura, Haruko Noguchi)” at 13th Applied Microeconometrics Conference in The University of Tokyo.
2018.11.23
“How does parental leave affect employment and fertility of new mothers in Japan? (co-author: Haruko Noguchi)” by Dr. Rong Fu, Assistant Professor of Faculty of Political Science and Economics was awarded “Outstanding performance award” at13th Applied Microeconometrics Conferencein The University of Tokyo.
2018.11.21
Prof. Ryuichi Tanka (The University of Tokyo), Adjunct Researcher of WISH presented a paper entitled “Do Teachers Matter for Academic Achievement of Students? Evidence from Administrative Panel Data (co-authors: Shun-ichiro Bessho, Akira Kawamura, Haruko Noguchi, Koichi Ushijima)” at International Conference on Education Economics in Budapest, Hungary.
2018.9.8
We hold an organized session entitled “Empirical studies using longitudinal data for entire primary and junior-high school students in public schools of Adachi ward in Tokyo prefecture”, based on Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) (FY2016 – FY2019: “Empirical research on the mechanism of the accumulation of children’s human capital - Learning from Challenge of Adachi Ward -”, at 2018 Japan Economic Association Autumn Meeting in Gakushuin University. We really appreciate Profs. Fumio Ohtake (Session Chair, Osaka University), Shinpei Sano (Chiba University), Ryo Nakajima (Keio University), and Hideo Akabayashi (Keio University) to provide us valuable comments as discussants.
2018.9.6
Mr. Yuichi Watanabe, a PhD student of Graduate School of Economics presented a paper entitled “Estimating surgical efficiency of a Japanese large-scale hospital: a stochastic production frontier approach (co-authors: Haruko Noguchi, Yoshinori Nakata)” at EuHEA PhD student-supervisor and early career researcher conference (European Health Economics Association (EuHEA)) in Catania, Italy.
2018.9.1
Mr. Yuichi Watanabe, a PhD student of Graduate School of Economics presented a paper entitled “Estimating surgical efficiency of a Japanese large-scale hospital: a stochastic production frontier approach (co-authors: Haruko Noguchi, Yoshinori Nakata)” at 13th Annual Meeting of Japan Health Economics Association in The University of Tokyo.
2018.7.13
Dr. Rong Fu, Assistant Professor of Faculty of Political Science and Economics presented a paper entitled “Moral Hazard under Zero Price Policy: Evidence from Japanese Long-term Care Claims Data (co-author: Haruko Noguchi)” at EUHEA Conference 2018 (European Health Economics Association (EuHEA)) in Maastricht, The Netherlands.
2018.7.13
Prof. Akira Kawamura, Associate Professor of Faculty of Political Science and Economics presented a paper entitled “The budget system and inefficiency for national health and long term care insurance (co-author: Haruko Noguchi)” at EUHEA Conference 2018 (European Health Economics Association (EuHEA)) in Maastricht, The Netherlands.
2018.7.13
Mr. Shuhei Kaneko, a master student of Graduate School of Economics presented a paper entitled “Is Traditional Price Policy Effective for Achieving Low Smoking Rate?: Empirical and Theoretical Evaluation Based on the United States Aggregate Data (co-authors: Haruko Noguchi)” at EUHEA Conference 2018 (European Health Economics Association (EuHEA)) in Maastricht, The Netherlands.
2018.7.12
Ms. Mayumi Imahori, a PhD student of Graduate School of Economics presented a paper entitled “Do income affect medical care and LTC expenditure for the elderly?: Based on claim-data under the universal system in Japan (co-authors: Takashi Kurihara, Haruko Noguchi)” at EUHEA Conference 2018 (European Health Economics Association (EuHEA)) in Maastricht, The Netherlands.
2018.4.17
Prof. Hitoshi Shigeoka (Assistant Professor, Simon Fraser University, Faculty Research Fellow, NBER) gave a lecture to undergrad and grad students, entitled “Estimating return to health care ”.
2018.3.14
Prof. Ryuichi Tanka (The University of Tokyo), Adjunct Researcher of WISH presented a paper entitled “Do Teachers Matter for Academic Achievement of Students? Evidence from Administrative Panel Data (co-authors: Shun-ichiro Bessho, Akira Kawamura, Haruko Noguchi, Koichi Ushijima)” at GRIPS-UTokyo Workshop: Redistributive Policies and Investment in Human Capital in GRIPS, Tokyo.
2018.1.15
WISH and The Center for Positive Political Economy (CPPE) held a seminar by Prof. Ryuichi Tanaka (Professor, the Institute of Social Science (ISS), The University of Tokyo, entitled “Do Teachers Matter for Academic Achievement of Students?:Evidence from Administrative Panel Data.
2017.12.19
Prof. Hitoshi Shigeoka (Assistant Professor, Simon Fraser University, Faculty Research Fellow, NBER) gave a lecture to undergrad and grad students, entitled “Estimating return to health care ”.
2017.11.29
WISH and Waseda Institute of Political Economy (WINPEC) held a seminar by Prof. Hitoshi Shigeoka (Assistant Professor, Simon Fraser University, Faculty Research Fellow, NBER), entitled “Patient Cost-sharing and Health Care Utilization among Children ”.
2017.10.27
Participated as a panelist for "Advanced Data Human Resource Development Program (D-Data Program)" Kick-off Symposium.
2017.10.19
Ms. Rong Fu, Instructor of Graduate School of Economics presented a paper entitled “Does Marriage make us healthier? Evidence from middle-aged and older people in Japan” (co-author : Haruko Noguchi)” at Scientific Session-Ageing of MIRAI(未来) Seminar in Lund University, Sweden.
2017.10.17
Keynote Speech entitled “Japan’s Challenge to Ageing – Demographic Trend, Health Determinants, and Public Policies” at Scientific Session-Ageing of MIRAI(未来) Seminar in Lund University, Sweden.
2017.9.17
-9.22
We visited Ekhlaspur Village, Matlab Uttar, Chandpur District in Bangladesh and conducted field work for the evaluation of the GramClean Project, coordinated by Global Communication Center, Gramin Communications of Grameen Bank.
2017.9.7
Social Innovation Seminar by Mr. Anshu Gupta, popularly known as “the Clothing Man” is the Founder of an Indian based nonprofit (Goonj) was organized by WISH. Mr. Gupta received numerous awards from either India or abroad, such as the Magsaysay Award, Schwab, Forbs, Ashokafaro, FastCompany.
2017.9.2
Ms. Mayumi Imahori, a PhD student of Graduate School of Economics presented a paper entitled “Does Income Affect Medical And Nursing Care Expenditure For Elderly?-Evidence From Health Care Systems in Japan (co-authors : Takashi Kurihara, Haruko Noguchi)” at 12th Annual Meeting of Japan Health Economics Association in Keio University.
2017.9.2
Mr. Yuichi Watanabe, a PhD student of Graduate School of Economics presented a paper entitled “What Determines Surgeons' Efficiency in The Operating Rooms?-Surgical Panel Data Analysis OF A Japanese Large-Scale Hospital (co-authors : Haruko Noguchi, Yoshinori Nakata)” at 12th Annual Meeting of Japan Health Economics Association in Keio University.
2017.7.10
Ms. Rong Fu, Instructor of Graduate School of Economics presented a paper entitled “Moral Hazard in The Long-Term Care Market : Evidence From Japanese Claims Data (co-author : Haruko Noguchi)” at 12th World Congress of International Health Economics Association (iHEA) in Boston University.
2017.7.10
Ms. Yuichi Watanabe, a PhD student of Graduate School of Economics presented a paper entitled “What Determines Surgeons' Efficiency in The Operating Rooms?-Surgical Panel Data Analysis OF A Japanese Large-Scale Hospital (co-authors : Haruko Noguchi, Yoshinori Nakata)” at 12th World Congress of International Health Economics Association (iHEA) in Boston University.
2017.6.3
A symposium entitled “How we face “transition period of social welfare” in developed countries: Possibility of “citizen driven” social welfare in the case study of Bangladesh” was organized by Waseda Institute of Social and Human Capital Studies (WISH), W-BRIDGE (Waseda-Bridgestone Initiative for Development of Global Environment) and GCMP (Global Change Makers Program).
2017.4.18
“Empirical and theoretical research on social welfare in sustainable society” was adopted as one of research project funded by Organization for University Research Initiatives of Waseda University (FY2017 – FY2019). Based on the research project, Waseda Institute of Social and Human Capital Studies (WISH) were established.
2017.3.21
As a part of WISH research projects, “Effects of the prevention policy of lifestyle related disease on labor productivity and macro economy from viewpoint of cost-effective analysis” was adopted as one of Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research Project funded by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (FY2017 – FY2018).
2016.4.1
As a part of WISH research projects, “Empirical research on the mechanism of the accumulation of children’s human capital - Learning from Challenge of Adachi Ward -” was adopted as one of Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) (FY2016 – FY2019).