Inside the learning dynamism inducing the resonance between innovation and high-demand consumption: A case of Japan's high-functional mobile phones

Confronting the simultaneous global economic stagnation that has resulted in diminishing consumption, a new driver which can instill in customers an exciting story with their own initiative and thrills them with gratification of consumption is essential. Japan's mobile phone driven innovation may provide a constructive suggestion to this requirement.On the basis of an empirical analysis focusing on the learning dynamism for innovative products in Japan's digital industry, this paper demonstrates the foregoing hypothetical anticipation. Based on measurement of dynamic learning coefficients for seven leading innovative products centered on mobile phones, the Granger causal test, Chow forecast test and wavelet analysis were conducted, and the significant role of mobile phones in leveraging broad dissemination, learning and absorption of core technologies essential to the advancement of digital industry was identified. Furthermore, significant role of demanding customers in inducing resonance between mobile phones learning and that of innovative products was demonstrated.     

A NOTE ON MEASURING SECTORAL INPUT PRODUCTIVITY*

This note attempts to shed some light on the relationship between the total factor productivity derived from national income accounts and the total input productivity based upon input-output accounts, especially on a sectoral basis. Since there has been no positive evidence to support a constancy between changes in net and gross output in individual industries, the formulation of a measure of sectoral input productivity change by using the formula of the Divisia index based on input-output accounts may be valuable in examining possible biases which are associated with a common notion of the total factor productivity. An operational definition of sectoral input productivity change and its relation to sectoral total factor productivity are discussed in the present note, in addition to its empirical application to the Japanese data.     

Firm age and the evolution of borrowing costs: Evidence from Japanese small firms

This paper investigates how firms’ borrowing costs evolve as they age. Using a new panel data set of about 100,000 bank-dependent small firms for 1997–2002 and focusing on the channel of “adaptation” (i.e., surviving firms’ borrowing costs decline as they age) and that of “selection” (i.e., total borrowing costs decline as defaulting firms exit), we find that the reputation hypothesis suggested by Diamond (1989) provides a more plausible explanation of the downward sloping age profile of borrowing costs than the firm dynamics (Cooley and Quadrini, 2001) or the relationship banking (Boot and Thakor, 1994) hypothesis. In addition, we examine whether the firm selection process in Japan has been natural or unnatural. Our findings suggest that it has been natural in that firms with lower quality are separated, face higher borrowing costs, and are eventually forced to exit, which contrasts with the results of previous studies on credit allocations in Japan, including Peek and Rosengren (2005). Further, we find that the evolution of borrowing costs is partially due to selection but is mainly attributable to adaptation.     

REGIONAL WATER FOOTPRINTS OF THE YANGTZE RIVER: AN INTERREGIONAL INPUT–OUTPUT APPROACH

Recently, researchers have applied the multi-regional input–output (MRIO) approach to water footprint (WF) analysis. The concept of interregional input–output (R-MRIO) was developed to analyse regional issues. Researchers have concentrated on the development of global or international input–output (N-MRIO) tables. Using the N-MRIO and the R-MRIO approach allows the study of global and regional issues, respectively. The WF is an indicator influenced by trade among nations and regions. However, the treatment of imports in an R-MRIO approach differs in whether international imports are separated or combined. We evaluate the effects of the difference between these models and discuss policy implications for the Yangtze River, China. The WF calculated using the combined type model is 11% larger than that by the separated type model. This difference can be ascribed to international imports, mainly internal consumption and interregional trade. We find that this difference affects social equity in water-abundant areas.     

Refining estimates of air conditioning energy consumption in Asian countries: stock volume and energy efficiency labeling and standard

In order to evaluate how the standard and labeling program for energy efficiency reduces energy demand in an economy, we must know how many appliances work and the total energy consumption capacity developed before and after the introduction of the program. This paper calculates the stock of air conditioners and its total electricity consumption capacity based on GfK market survey and collected data by authors. The results show that Japan has experienced a substantial reduction of electricity demand from air conditioning overall in the economy. However, Thailand and China maintain their average electricity consumption levels, but are unable to reduce total demand. A study of the energy efficiency standard-labeling mechanism development and market outcomes reveals that Thailand and China fail to continuously improve energy efficiency, although the mechanism curbed the increasing inefficiency. This implies that China’s and Thailand’s mechanisms need to raise the upper bound of the distribution of energy efficiency.     

Collateral fluctuations in a monetary economy

This paper studies economy-wide fluctuations that occur endogenously in the presence of monetary and real assets. Using a standard monetary search model, we consider an economy in which agents can increase consumption, over and above what their liquid monetary asset holdings would allow, pledging real assets as collateral for monetary loans. It is shown that, if the liquidation value of real assets is below full market value, a stable cyclical equilibrium can emerge in consumption and capital around the unstable steady state. We also provide conditions for the existence of cycles of higher order, chaos and sunspot equilibria.     

Potential for videophones in Japan: A service proposal

The author proposes the introduction of a videophone communication service to cater for workers temporarily relocated away from their homes and families. An NTT market survey suggests that there is a perceived need for such a service. If the toll for the service is kept low, and communication centres are easily accessible, significant use of videophones may be expected in Japan.     

Product Downsizing and Hidden Price Increases: Evidence from Japan's Deflationary Period

In this paper, we empirically examine the extent to which product downsizing occurred during the deflationary period in Japan, as well as the effects of product downsizing on prices and quantities sold. Using scanner data on prices and quantities for all products sold at about 200 supermarkets over the last 10 years, we find that about one third of product replacements were accompanied by a size/weight reduction. We also find that a 1‐percentage point larger size/weight reduction is associated with a 0.45‐percentage point larger price decline, resulting in an effective price increase. Finally, we show that the quantities sold decline with product downsizing, and that the responsiveness of the quantity sold to size/weight changes is almost the same as the price elasticity, indicating that consumers are as sensitive to size/weight changes as they are to price changes. Our results suggest that the Japanese consumer price index may be downwardly biased rather than upwardly biased.