Mitsuyo Ando
Faculty of Business and Commerce, Keio University, Japan

Fukunari Kimura
Faculty of Economics, Keio University, Japan
Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Indonesia

This paper analyzes the impact of two massive shocks, the 2008-2009 Global Financial Crisis and the 2011 East Japan Earthquake, on Japanese exports, focusing on the characteristics of domestic/international production networks in machinery industries. Using monthly data of Japanese bilateral exports at the most disaggregated level, we decompose the fall and recovery of Japanese exports into intensive and extensive margins and also examine the exits and re-entries by applying logit estimation and survival analysis. 

To reach the Discussion Paper 2012-01, please click on the following link.

http://www.eria.org/publications/discussion.html

The second Research Institute Network Meeting (RINM) for ERIA for the year 2011 was held in Phuket, Thailand on 14 January 2012 under the Chairmanship of Dr Hank Lim Giok-Hay from Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA).

By Anita Prakash & Ikumo Isono

Established in 1967, ASEAN has travelled a long way from a group of five nations to a thriving and leading group of ten countries. Based on the progress in the implementation of the blueprints for building the ASEAN community by 2015, there is an enhanced role for the ASEAN in dealing with regional and global challenges. It is emerging as a services hub in the region and is the chosen destination for investments.

To reach the Policy Brief 2012-01, please click on the following link.

http://www.eria.org/publications/policy.html

The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and Nara Prefecture of Japan will be establishing an international award called “Asia Cosmopolitan Awards” in February 2012. On this occasion they will also organize “Asia Cosmopolitan Awards Commemorative Forum” entitled “Moving Towards Economic and Cultural Integration in East Asia” in Nara, Japan. 

Mr. Hidetoshi Nishimura, Executive Director of ERIA, invited as a lecturer to the lecture held at Kaetsu University organized by Faculty of Management and Economics, Area Studies of  “Towards the Establishment of Asian Community”.

“Deepen Understanding and Move Forward: Energy Market Integration in East Asia”

Edited by Fukunari Kimura and Xunpeng Shi

It is widely believed that EMI in East Asia is beneficial for both developed and developing countries. However, such benefits are more often stated in qualitative ways than in quantitative ways. Since the benefits of EMI are not without questions, it is useful to do further quantitative studies to deepen our understanding on the impact of EMI. Moreover, even though EMI in the EAS region seems beneficial and promising, the way toward EMI will not be smooth and therefore the implementation of EMI should be carefully studied. To address these needs, ERIA continued an EMI study project for the second year.

To reach the ERIA Research Project FY2010 No. 25, please click on the following link.

http://www.eria.org/research/y2010-no25.html

Tomohiro Machikita, Institute of Developing Economies, Inter-disciplinary Studies Center, Japan and Yasushi Ueki Institute of Developing Economies, Bangkok Research Center, Thailand

This paper presents a simple model of the innovations that result from face-to-face communication and mutual learning in upstream-downstream relations.  To examine the framework, we empirically investigate the impact of mutual knowledge exchanges on product and process innovation using a survey of manufacturing firms in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.  Evidence from interconnected firms in developing economies suggests that firms with mutual exchanges between engineers and customers achieved product innovations with new technologies and new markets.    

To reach the Discussion Paper 2011-10, please click on the following link.

http://www.eria.org/publications/discussion.html

“Sustainability Assessment methodology for Biomass Energy Utilization for Small and Large Scale Initiatives: Lessons Learned from Pilot Studies in Selected East Asian Countries”

Edited by ERIA Working Group on “Sustainability Assessment of Biomass Utilization in East Asia”

The fourth phase of the working group culminated several years of developing and testing methodology for assessing sustainability of biomass utilization in East Asia. After review of existing indicators for environmental, economic and social pillars, relevant for biomass systems, one indicator was identified for each of the pillars, based on importance and relevance particular to the East Asian context. Life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, total value added (TVA) and the Human Development Index (HDI) of the United Nations Development Programme were the shortlisted indicators of above three pillars, respectively, which were then tested for actual application at four study sites.

To reach the ERIA Research Project FY2010 No. 22, please click on the following link.

http://www.eria.org/research/y2010-no22.html

Mr. Hidetoshi Nishimura conducted several meetings from 28 December 2011 to 5 January 2012 in Japan. (photos 1-4) Mr. Nishimura expressed his gratitude to their great assistance to the activities of ERIA in 2011 and explained the recent outcomes of ERIA.