2024 Special graduate degree programs Specially Offered Degree Programs for Graduate Students Tokyo Tech Academy of Energy and Informatics program
Economic Development and Energy Policies
- Academic unit or major
- Tokyo Tech Academy of Energy and Informatics program
- Instructor(s)
- Hidetoshi Yamashita / Yukichi Mano
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 7-8 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- ENI.H403
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 1Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course consists of 2 parts; (1) economic development by Mano, (2) energy policies by Yamashita. In the economic development part of the course, we ask ourselves why some countries remain poor and how to solve the problem. We first examine the basic mechanism of poverty. We next elucidate the process of agricultural development, so-called Green Revolution, and the process of industrial development based on multifaceted innovations in management and technologies, by analyzing the experience of Japan and Asia. We finally consider strategies to apply these experiences in Asia to modern sub-Saharan Africa. In the energy policies part, in particular, we will examine the cases of regional development efforts (energy conversion from the region) that utilize the renewable energy of the region, and discuss the policy support required. In order to build a sustainable society, it is essential to both poverty eradication and resources and environmental conservation at the local level.
Importantly, energy connects these two major fields. The purpose of this lecture is to provide basic knowledge about the theory of economic development and the reality of developing countries, which are the premise of the discussion, and show the ideal policy support required from the case of regional development utilizing renewable energy.
Course description and aims
Students of this course will be able to
1） explain the basic mechanism of why some countries remain poor
2） explain the mechanism of Green Revolution and industrial development based on multifaceted innovations
3） learn the methods of policy evaluations, in particular, the randomized controlled trials
4） explain the mechanisms by which development without local participation fails
5） explain policy approaches to support energy transition
6） explain the requirements for implementing entities for locally-initiated energy transition
Keywords
poverty, economic development, randomized controlled trials (RCT), pollution, energy transition, renewable energy
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Although it is based on lectures, we would like to incorporate discussions with and interests of the students. Please read each learning goal carefully and perform the assignments in preparation and review.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | （Mano）Poverty and economic development: we discuss why some contries remain poor by analyzing long-term development and international comparisons in living standards | Understand the basic mechanism of poverty |
| Class 2 | （Mano）Strategies for agricultural development： We elucidate the mechanism of the Green Revolution, and consider how to achieve the food security in sub-Sahara Africa | Understand the Green Revolution, consider its applicability in sub-Sahara Africa, learn RCT |
| Class 3 | （Mano）Strategies for industrial development: Elucidate the process of industrial development in Asia, and consider the strategies to achieve industrial development in sub-Sahara Africa | Understand the process of industrial development based on multifaceted innovations in Asia, consider how to achieve it in sub-Sahara Africa |
| Class 4 | （Yamashita）Pollution in Japan: we elucidate the nagative aspects of regional development from the case studies of past pollution in Japan and explore the requirements for achieving sustainable development at the regional level | Understand the factors that have caused pollution in Japan to become so severe, and understand the importance of participation in community development. |
| Class 5 | （Yamashita）Energy transition: we elucidate the policy approaches and results of promoting the shift from fossil and nuclear energy to renewable energy | Understand the status of energy transition in different countries and policy instruments such as FIT and RPS |
| Class 6 | （Yamashita）Locally-initiated energy transition: we analyze case studies of local development using local renewable energy and examine ways to provide policy support | Understand community power and how to use panel data to test policy effectiveness |
| Class 7 | Q&A sessions |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
will distribute detailed lecture slides in place of textbooks
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Not specified
Evaluation methods and criteria
（Mano）submit reports based on an academic article related to the lectures (50%)
（Yamashita）submit a report on a theme related to the lectures (50%)
Related courses
- ENI.H401 ： Marketing for Value Creation
- ENI.H402 ： Finance and Data Analysis in Energy Markets
- TAL.S502 ： Professionals and Value Creation A
- TAL.S503 ： Professionals and Value Creation B
- ENI.A602 ： InfoSyEnergy Product-service design
- ENI.A603 ： InfoSyEnergy Policy-making workshop
Prerequisites
knowledge of undergraduate-level microeconomics and econometrics