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Masazumi Wakatabe

わかたべ まさずみ

Wakatabe Masazumi

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1965-02-26 （Kanagawa, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Economist, University Professor
Active Years
1987-
Affiliations
Waseda University, School of Political Science and Economics, Bank of Japan (former Deputy Governor)
Influenced By
Milton Friedman, John Maynard Keynes

Education

Waseda University
School of Political Science and Economics / Department of Economics
Degree: 学士
Year of Graduation: 1987
Country: Japan
Bachelor's degree (Waseda University)
Waseda University
Graduate School of Economics
Degree: 修士（経済学）
Country: Japan
Completed graduate studies at Waseda University (degree year not specified in source)
University of Toronto
Graduate School of Economics
Degree: 修士（経済学）
Year of Graduation: 1994
Country: Canada
Master's degree in Economics from University of Toronto (1994)

Awards

Nikkei Economics Book Culture Award
2004
Work: Research on the Showa Depression (co-authored)
Organization: Nikkei Inc.
Result: 受賞
Ishibashi Tanzan Prize
2010
Work: The Economics of Crisis
Organization: Ishibashi Tanzan Memorial Foundation
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Battles of Economists: The Archaeology of Economics

2003 Economics

An introductory work situating contemporary economic policy debates within the history of economic thought.

history of economic thoughtpolicy debates

Crisis Economic Policy: Why It Happened and What to Learn

2009 Economics

A specialist book explaining mechanisms of economic crises and policy responses based on historical cases.

economic crisesmonetary policyeconomic history

The Bank of Japan's Deflation: Japan's Tragedy Governed by Failed Elites

2010 Non-fiction / Commentary

A critical examination of the Bank of Japan and monetary policy analysing Japan's prolonged deflation.

central bankingmonetary policydeflation

Bibliography

  • Battles of Economists: The Archaeology of Economics
  • Economics of Reform: Conditions for Policy That Restores Recovery
  • Crisis Economic Policy: Why It Happened and What to Learn
  • The Bank of Japan's Deflation: Japan's Tragedy Governed by Failed Elites
  • Economics Lectures to Avoid Being Misled
  • Dissecting Abenomics
  • Issues in Neo-Abenomics

Translations by Author

  • Was Bernanke Right? The Truth About the Fed (translator)
  • The Great Stagnation (translator)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
scholarly and argumentativeemphasis on historical case studies
Recurring Motifs
economic crisesreflationhistory of economic thought

Legacy

Known for policy proposals grounded in history of economic thought and central banking. Influential both in academic writings and public policy, and served as Deputy Governor of the Bank of Japan from 2018 to 2023, strengthening his practical engagement.

Academic Societies

  • Japanese Society for the History of Economic Thought

In Popular Culture

  • Columns and contributions in Forbes and national newspapers

Quotes

  • If nominal economic growth does not rise, Japan will inevitably head in a direction where public finances could collapse.
    Source: Diamond Online (interview) (2011)
  • The Bank of Japan Act should be amended to incorporate an explicit price (inflation) target.
    Source: Asahi Shimbun Digital (statement) (2015)

Trivia

  • Served as Deputy Governor of the Bank of Japan from March 2018 to March 2023.
  • His father, Seigo Wakatabe, also studied the history of economic thought at Waseda University.