Introducing our new associate professor Dr. Hiroshi Morita

What are the most important topics in your field at the moment?

I am now interested in analyzing “information effects.” This refers to information about the economic outlook of a government or central bank that is hidden behind changes in their policy stances, where such information is considered to influence people’s behavior. Under this framework, economic stimulus policies, such as monetary easing or expansionary fiscal policies, may induce private actors to behave in a contractionary manner, due to having a negative outlook on the government or central bank. Analyses on the information effect framework have been mainly conducted in the US and Europe, and I believe that it is important to clarify whether this effect exists in Japan and under what economic conditions it becomes most relevant.

What advice do you have for students aspiring to work with you or in your field?

This advice is not only for students, but also for myself, but it is very important for us researchers to always think deeply and always continue our research. Otherwise, good ideas and good outcome will not be generated. I also hope that students, especially those who have entered master's programs and beyond, will take on the spirit that they are professional researchers of their own research.

Finally, what are your ambitions for the future?

First of all, although this may be a conventional answer, I would like to continue my research steadily as before and achieve results. On top of that, I would like to take on the challenge of new research themes, taking advantage of the environment in which I am fortunately surrounded by excellent professors and students at Tokyo Tech.