In May 2023, the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Public Policy and PwC Consulting LLC entered into a joint research agreement on the impact of geopolitical risks on business activities and began research.
The theme of the joint research is "Research on corporate response to geopolitical risk and decision-making on business continuity."In recent years, geopolitical risks such as the competition between the United States and China and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have become conspicuous, and the world situation is showing signs of deterioration.Tensions are rising around Japan as well, such as the rapid buildup of armaments, including nuclear and missile forces.For companies, the question of how to make management decisions will become an important issue as the predictability of the international political economy is declining.
In the joint research, we will conduct research on corporate responses and decision-making simulations to geopolitical risks, as well as issues and countermeasures that become apparent as a result.Ultimately, the aim is to compile a "action guideline" for companies and create a foundation for examining countermeasures at the company and industry levels, as well as to publish policy recommendations to the government.
Professor Kazuto Suzuki of the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Public Policy, who is a joint researcher, said, ``Until now, free trade was the basis of the international economic order, but in modern times, the economy is used as a means of 'economic coercion' against other countries. Under such circumstances, “economic security” has become an important concept for maintaining the stability of order in Japan and the international community. I would like to consider how to ensure security while maintaining the established international order."
In April 2004, the Graduate Schools of Law and Politics and the Graduate Schools of Economics at the University of Tokyo launched a graduate school master's degree program (professional degree program) to train public officials and other experts in policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation. Established the Graduate School of Policy Studies.In order to allow as many internationally acclaimed professors of the Graduate Schools of Law and Politics and the Graduate School of Economics, which are graduate schools related to public policy, to teach as many subjects as possible, it would be better to create an organization that is independent of the two graduate schools. I believe that collaboration between the two graduate schools will lead to higher quality education and research. organization”).In addition, since advanced specialized education is inseparable from cutting-edge research, a research organization called the "Collaborative Research Department for Public Policy Studies" was established at the same time as the cornerstone of collaboration between the two graduate schools and the Department of Public Policy Education.
