Research Activities
Research Principles
Intellectual Contributions to the World
The Institute of Developing Economies (IDE) aims to make intellectual contributions to the world as a leading center of social-science research on developing regions.
MISSION STATEMENT
As a national research institute conducting basic, comprehensive research that engages with both the expansion of trade and the promotion of economic cooperation with developing countries and regions in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, the Institute of Developing Economies (IDE) contributes to the global development through providing intellectual knowledge and expertise to Japan's international trade and economic cooperation policy. Additionally, by making the most of, one, its fine collection of researchers from a wide range of disciplines, including economics and political science, who are well versed in the local situations and local languages of developing regions, and, two, the extensive research networks within Japan and abroad, IDE efficiently provides a key knowledge of understanding the contexts and issues in developing countries to public policymaking and private sector strategy building.
In
the
view
of
"Guidelines
concerning
the
Formulation
of
Goals
by
Independent
Administrative
Institutions"
(the
Ministry
of
Internal
Affairs
and
Communications'
September
2,
2014,
announcement),
IDE
will
come
to
grips
with
the
following
issues
that
the
guidelines
aim
to
maximize
its
research
results:
1)
the
securing
and
training
of
human
resources;
2)
the
appropriate
allocation
of
resources;
3)
cooperation
and
combination
among
research
projects;
4)
building
and
improving
the
environment
for
research
and
development
in
ways
that
are
conducive
to
enabling
researchers
to
give
the
fullest
expression
to
their
abilities;
and
5)
enhancing
coordination
and
cooperation
with
other
research
institutions.
As
a
means
of
administering
appropriate
resource
allocation,
IDE
will
endeavor
to
increase
the
dissemination
of
its
research
findings
and
the
expansion
of
its
collaborative
research
which
is
indispensable
for
attaining
the
following
set
of
numerical
goals:
1)
the
number
of
briefing
sessions
offered
to
policy
makers;
2)
the
number
of
papers
downloaded;
3)
scores
given
to
research
findings
after
evaluation
by
external
experts;
4)
the
number
of
seminars,
symposia,
etc.
sponsored
by
IDE;
and
5)
the
number
of
international
joint
research
projects.
Simultaneously,
IDE
will
clearly
identify
priority
research
themes,
including
Africa,
the
Geographic
Simulation
Model
(GSM),
and
the
Global
Value
Chain
(GVC),
as
will
be
explained
below.
IDE
will
also
endeavor
to
build
a
better
research
environment
in
order
to
secure
highly
competent
research
talent.
(1) Contribution to Industry, the Economy, and Society
As the process of globalization continues to unfold, emerging countries, are continuing to register rapid growth rates, which hold out the promise of an expansion of potential markets for Japanese companies, on the one hand, while, on the other hand, this process is accompanied by the advent of a set of difficult issues, such as widening inter-regional and intra-regional income differences, and the surfacing of resource and environmental constraints. The result is that the need for studies on emerging countries and developing regions is growing by leaps and bounds. In order to meet this need, IDE will carry out in-depth analysis of the politics, economies, and societies of these countries by employing area studies and development studies in order to anticipate the challenges and problems that these countries will confront in the future in their efforts to realize sustainable growth and overall industrial advancement. More specifically, IDE will grapple with the “middle income trap” and other problems in emerging countries that need to be overcome through innovation, while it will prioritize its research on Africa, which has been attaining phenomenal growth fueled by expansion in trade, investment, and consumption, and which is also being identified as an important strategic target for Japan's economic cooperation that is to be provided through the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). Furthermore, by keeping in mind the sustainable development goals (SDGs) to be followed in 2015 and after, IDE will undertake research that address issues such as gender, development and the correction of disparities from standpoints that attach importance to inclusive growth and equality of opportunity.
(2) Production of Pioneering Research Results
IDE
endeavors
to
produce
research
results
that
are
beyond
the
reach
of
universities
and
private
companies.
Specifically,
IDE
will
expand
its
geographical
coverage
and
the
practical
application
of
the
GSM,
which
it
has
built
on
the
basis
of
spatial
economics,
so
as
to
supply
the
results
of
GSM
analysis
at
the
request
of
international
organizations
and
foreign
governments.
In
keeping
with
the
worldwide
surge
of
interest
in
GVCs,
IDE
will
also
establish
a
network
of
research
bases
for
the
study
of
GVCs,
so
as
to
take
the
lead
in
cutting-edge
research
activities,
including
a
"trade
in
value-added
analysis"
which
IDE
has
developed
and
improved
over
a
long
period
of
time.
IDE
will
also
strengthen
collaboration
among
various
research
projects.
(3) Intellectual Contribution to the World through International Joint Research
IDE aims to make an intellectual contribution to the world by promoting joint research with international organizations such as WTO, OECD, UNIDO, ADB, and ERIA, and with universities and research institutions abroad, including those in emerging and developing regions, and by making use of competent research talent in Japan and abroad.
ACTION PRINCIPLES
1.
Research
Projects
IDE
carries
out
three
different
categories
of
research:
Policy
Recommendation
Research;
Analytical
Research;
and
Basic-Comprehensive
Research.
- (1) Policy Recommendation Research
-
Policy
recommendation
research
means
projects
based
on
requests
from
ministries
in
the
Government
of
Japan
such
as
Ministry
of
Trade,
Economy
and
Industry.
This
type
of
research
in
some
cases
involves
staff
in
JETRO
HQ.
In
FY2015,
seven
projects
(research
programs)
were
completed
as
follows.
- Failure of Nation-state Model in Middle East – A Possibility of the New Regional Order
- Trade in value-added analysis: an extension to developing economies (III)
- Economic, Industrial and Trade Development Vision for Lao PDR
- Business and Human Rights in Emerging Markets—For Designing Japan's CSR Strategies
- China's Pilot Free Trade Zone: Current Situation and Prospects
- Aid Policy of China, Aid Policy of Japan
- Contemporary Africa?
- (2) Analytical research
-
In
carrying
out
Analytical
Research,
IDE
enhances
collaborative
research
with
international
organizations
and
universities
and
other
research
institutions
within
Japan
and
abroad.
IDE
also
conducts
permanent
research
projects
that
analyze
political
and
economic
trends
in
Asia,
the
Middle
East,
Africa
and
Latin
America,
disseminating
its
findings
through
its
periodical
publications
and
website,
while
also
being
engaged
in
the
development
and
utilization
of
the
Global
Simulation
Model
(GSM),
and
addresses
such
issues
as
“food
safety
regulations
and
trade.”
Also,
IDE
flexibly
performs
research
on
an
ad
hoc
basis
by
quickly
responding
to
the
surfacing
of
issues
of
great
concern
for
the
international
community,
such
as
emergency
situations
in
developing
regions
or
sudden,
violent
changes
in
the
international
situation.
In FY2015, IDE-JETRO collaborated with research institutes overseas and in Japan for three joint projects. The projects were:- Tracing China's Greenhouse Gas and Pollution Sources in Global Value Chains (GVCs): Regional and Firm Heterogeneity, conducted with the Institute of Contemporary China Studies (ICCS) of Tsinghua University, the Institute of Global Low-Carbon Economy (IGLCE) of Nagoya University, the Research Institute of Euro-Asia Economic Forum (RIEAEF) of Xi’an Jiaotong University, and the Center for BRICS Studies (CBS) of Fudan University,
- Leveraging the Silicon Valley Connections: Taiwan’s New Innovation policies and implications for Japan, conducted with Taiwan Institute of Economic Research, and
- Regional Vitalization, Internationalization and Innovation: Theory and Empirical Analysis for Invigorating the Hokuriku Economies, conducted with Fukui Prefectural University, Hokuriku AJEC, and Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry.
- (3) Basic-Comprehensive Research
- By keeping track of the latest trends in academic research, as well as the current needs of industry, government, and academia, IDE implements Basic-Comprehensive Research that can serve as the basis for policy recommendation.
2.
Publication
and
Dissemination
of
Research
Findings
IDE
disseminates
its
findings
through
publications,
lectures,
seminars,
and
its
website,
so
as
to
meet
the
needs
of
policy
authorities,
the
business
world,
academics
and
the
public
at
large.
- (1) Contribution to Policy-making
- In order to have its research findings and resources duly reflected in policy making and business planning, IDE will actively disseminate information to persons who exert great influence on policy making, such as those in the top echelon of the government, major companies and the media, and will also prepare policy briefs for dissemination among these groups.
- (2) Website
- IDE will upgrade its website so that it focuses attention on timely topics and content, and incorporates viewpoints, analytical methods, and high value-added data that are useful for policy makers and business planners. As part of our effort to widely disseminate IDE’s research findings, we plan to make the website’s contents more accessible to the public at large. Furthermore, in accordance with an information system optimization plan, we will commence work on building a common website platform with JETRO.
- (3) Symposia and Seminars
- IDE will actively sponsor and promote various events such as symposia and seminars both in Japan and abroad, present papers at academic meetings and symposia, publish papers in peer-reviewed journals, and publish research findings in book form. In a new project, IDE will sponsor seminars and lecture meetings in collaboration with universities within Japan. In organizing such seminars and lectures, including, in particular, the newly launched public summer lecture series in Osaka, we will see to it that these events will duly address the needs of various sectors and local regions in Japan and elsewhere. In planning lectures in Japan and abroad, we will do our best to strengthen the collaboration with JETRO and its domestic offices by asking, for instance, both IDE researchers and officers in charge of research at JETRO to serve as lecturers, while trying, at the same time, to organize these events in a flexible way by making use of JETRO's very extensive network.
3.
IDE
Library
As
a
research
library
on
the
study
of
developing
countries,
the
IDE
Library
collects,
maintains
and
offers
academic
documents
as
well
as
materials
in
multiple
languages,
including
government
publications,
statistical
documents,
newspapers,
and
journals
from
various
countries
(both
in
printed
and
digital
media).
In
order
to
enhance
its
convenience
for
non-visiting
users,
the
library
provides
information,
valuable
data
and
access
to
useful
materials
and
information
via
its
website.
It
also
aims
to
expand
its
academic
information
databases
such
as
the
Archive
of
IDE
Publications
(AIDE)
and
the
Academic
Research
Repository
at
the
Institute
of
the
Developing
Economies
(ARRIDE).
In
addition
to
taking
steps
to
promote
its
use,
such
as
the
sponsoring
of
special
exhibitions
of
materials
and
documents,
and
the
improvement
of
the
system
for
libraries'
mutual
use,
the
library
sponsors
book-talks
in
university
libraries
where
IDE
researchers
talk
about
their
fresh
publications.
To
make
its
management
more
efficient,
the
library
has
started
to
commission
private
subcontractors
to
execute
some
of
the
work
listed
as
being
able
to
be
outsourced
on
a
competitive
basis
beginning
in
the
2015
Fiscal
Year,
while
it
will
proceed
with
the
integration
of
its
library
information
system
with
those
of
JETRO's
business
libraries.
4.
Research
Partnerships
and
Networks,
and
Human
Resources
Development
As
part
of
its
intellectual
contribution
and
its
activities
to
disseminate
its
research
which
are
based
on
the
vast
amount
of
information
and
research
on
the
developing
world
in
its
possession,
IDE
operates
the
IDE
Advanced
School
(IDEAS)
to
train
both
Japanese
development
experts,
equipping
them
with
the
theoretical
understanding
and
practical
capabilities
necessary
for
them
to
be
able
to
work
for
international
organizations,
and
officials
of
administrative
and
public
institutions
in
developing
countries
in
Asia
and
Africa.
In
particular,
IDE
is
endeavoring
to
enroll
an
increasing
number
of
trainees
from
Africa
for
the
training
program
that
was
launched
as
part
of
the
New
Strategy
toward
Africa.
In
order
to
enhance
its
information
gathering
and
analytical
capabilities,
IDE
dispatches
researchers
to
research
institutions
and
universities
in
developing
countries
as
well
as
to
research
institutions
in
the
West
that
specialize
in
the
study
of
developing
countries.
IDE
also
invites
outstanding
researchers
from
within
Japan
and
abroad
as
visiting
research
fellows
and
experts.
By
improving
its
joint
research
with
international
organizations
and
universities
and
research
institutions
in
Japan
and
abroad,
by
encouraging
its
researchers
to
present
their
research
findings
at
international
academic
meetings,
and
by
holding
IDE
sessions
in
international
gatherings,
IDE
endeavors
to
keep
track
of
research
needs,
expand
its
research
networks,
and
make
itself
better
known
to
the
world.
IDE
also
strengthens
collaboration
among
its
research
projects
by
taking
steps
to
improve
its
research
management
and
other
managerial
capabilities.
5.
ERIA
Support
Project
Working
in
collaboration
with
organizations
such
as
the
Ministry
of
Economy,
Trade
and
Industry,
the
Institute
of
Developing
Economies,
the
Overseas
Research
Department,
and
JETRO
Bangkok,
and
by
making
use
of
a
network
covering
a
total
of
16
research
institutions,
including
IDE,
the
ERIA
Support
Office
offers
research
support
to
the
Economic
Institute
for
ASEAN
and
East
Asia
(ERIA),
to
help
the
East
Asian
economic
sphere,
including
Japan,
to
continue
to
enjoy
growth
in
the
post-ASEAN-Economic-Community
era.
In
addition
to
carrying
out
a
joint
research
project
with
ERIA,
the
ERIA
Support
Office
will
engage
in
the
dissemination
of
the
research
findings
of
the
project
in
Japan
and
abroad.
6.
Securing
Competitive
Funds
and
the
Promotion
of
Their
Effective
Utilization
Capitalizing
on
its
extensive
accumulation
of
research
experience,
and
its
sizeable
pool
of
researchers,
IDE
makes
efforts
to
win
competitive
research
funds
by
undertaking
research
projects
that
are
commissioned
by
international
organizations
and
governmental
offices,
and
by
receiving
Grants-in-Aid
for
Scientific
Research
(KAKENHI),
which
are
managed
by
the
Japanese
government.
It
will
also
take
steps
to
use
these
research
funds
introduced
from
external
sources
more
effectively.
Research Policy
Below is IDE’s research policy, which is based on our goals, research mission and interpretations of the current global conditions.