HIGO, Masahiro

HIGO, Masahiro

Name / Position

HIGO, Masahiro / Professor

Website

 

E-mail

masahiro.higo@e.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Curriculum Vitae

Education

1997 May University of Michigan MA in Economics
1990 March University of Tokyo MS in Geophysics
1988 March University of Tokyo BS in Geophysics

Professional Experience

2020 November Professor, Graduate School of Economics, University of Tokyo
2019 May General Manager, Kyoto Branch, Bank of Japan
2017 April Senior Adviser and Director, Statistics Commission Office, Government of Japan
2012 September Chief Statistician, Associate Director-General, Research and Statistics Department, Bank of Japan
2011 July Associate Director-General, Global Economic Research Division, International Department, Bank of Japan
2010 July Director, Head of Price Statistics Division, Research and Statistics Department, Bank of Japan
2008 July Director, Head of Price Statistics Section, Research and Statistics Department, Bank of Japan
2004 October Senior Economist, Head of Economic Analysis Section, Research and Statistics Department, Bank of Japan
1990 Apri Bank of Japan

Research Field

Economic Statistics

Research Theme

My main research theme is to improve the accuracy of economic statistics, especially official statistics. Japan's economic statistics have not been able to sufficiently respond to structural changes in the economy, and the statistics have deteriorated noticeably. In order to overcome this situation and improve the accuracy of economic statistics, a fundamental review of statistics is essential. Specifically, it is necessary to: (1) expand statistical coverage and reduce errors by reviewing the design of statistical surveys, (2) utilize new information sources such as administrative record information and private-sector big data, and (3) improve the methodology for producing processed statistics such as GDP and price indexes. Through our research activities, I will study and propose specific improvement plans and work for their realization.

Publications

Articles

  • “Reforms and Crises in Government Statistics: The case of Japan,”　(with Kiyohiko　G. Nishimura and Yukie Sakuragawa), Asian Economic Papers, 19(2), 2020
  • “How to quantitatively capture the state of the household sector in Asia?”, (with Sayako Konno), IFC Bulletin No.40, Bank for International Settlement, 2015
  • “How can we estimate the quality deterioration with time in the rental service of office buildings in Japanese Services Producer Price Index?,”（with Masato Higashi and Aki Ono）, paper presented at the 14th Ottawa Group Meeting, May 2015
  • “Price Setting in Japan; Evidence from CPI Micro Data, ” (with Yumi Saita),  Bank of Japan Working Paper 07-E-20, 2007
  • “What can Inflation Expectations and Core Inflation Tell Us About Monetary Policy in Japan?,” in Lavan Mahadeva and Gabriel Sterne ed. Monetary Policy Frameworks in a Global Context, Routledge, 2000
  • “What Determines the Relation between the Output Gap and Inflation? An International Comparison of Inflation Expectations and Staggered Wage Adjustment,” (with Sachiko Kuroda Nakada),  Monetary and Economic Studies, 17(3), Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies, Bank of Japan, 1999
  • “Underlying Inflation and the Distribution of Price Changes: Evidence from the Japanese Trimmed-Mean CPI,” (with Hitoshi Mio), Monetary and Economic Studies, 17(3), Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies, Bank of Japan, 1999
  • “How Can We Extract a Fundamental Trend from an Economic Time-Series?,” (with Sachiko Kuroda Nakada),  Monetary and Economic Studies, 16(2), Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies, Bank of Japan, 1998

Other Professional Activities and Awards

Other Professional Activities and Services

  • 2013-2017 Executive, Irving Fisher Committee on Central Bank Statistics (IFC), Bank for International Settlements