Kazumasa Iwata

Bio: Kazumasa Iwata is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Abenomics & Monetary policy. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 24 publications receiving 33 citations.

Trade Blocs and Trade Wars during the Interwar Period

Abstract: What precisely were the causes and consequences of the trade wars in the 1930s? Were there perhaps deeper forces at work in reorienting global trade prior to the outbreak of World War II? And what lessons may this particular historical episode provide for the present day? To answer these questions, we distinguish between long-run secular trends in the period from 1920 to 1939 related to the formation of trade blocs (in particular, the British Commonwealth) and short-run disruptions associated with the trade wars of the 1930s (in particular, large and widespread declines in bilateral trade, the narrowing of trade imbalances, and sharp drops in average traded distances). We argue that the trade wars mainly served to intensify pre-existing efforts towards the formation of trade blocs which dated from at least 1920. More speculatively, we argue that the trade wars of the present day may serve a similar purpose as those in the 1930s, that is, the intensification of China- and US-centric trade blocs.

Quality of reporting of randomised controlled trials of herbal interventions in ASEAN Plus Six Countries: a systematic review.

Abstract: Background: Many randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of herbal interventions have been conducted in the ASEAN Communities. Good quality reporting of RCTs is essential for assessing clinical significance. Given the importance ASEAN placed on herbal medicines, the reporting quality of RCTs of herbal interventions among the ASEAN Communities deserved a special attention. Objectives: To systematically review the quality of reporting of RCTs of herbal interventions conducted in the ASEAN Plus Six Countries. Methods: Searches were performed using PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, and Allied and Complementary Medicine (AMED), from inception through October 2013. These were limited to studies specific to humans and RCTs. Herbal species search terms were based on those listed in the National List of Essential Medicines [NLEM (Thailand, 2011)]. Studies conducted in the ASEAN Plus Six Countries, published in English were included. Results: Seventy-one articles were identified. Thirty (42.25%) RCTs were from ASEAN Countries, whereas 41 RCTs (57.75%) were from Plus Six Group. Adherence to the recommended CONSORT checklist items for reporting of RCTs of herbal interventions among ASEAN Plus Six Countries ranged from 0% to 97.18%. Less than a quarter of the RCTs (18.31%) reported information on standardisation of the herbal products. However, the scope of our interventions of interest was limited to those developed from 20 herbal species listed in the NLEM of Thailand. Conclusions: The present study highlights the need to improve reporting quality of RCTs of herbal interventions across ASEAN Plus Six Communities.

India's RCEP Dilemma with China: Beyond the Legal Texts*

Abstract: The ASEAN-inaugurated Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was eventually concluded on 15 November 2020 after 8 years of tough negotiations India was counted as an important member of the RCEP, but it chose to back out when other members were finalizing the RCEP legal text This article critically analyzes the relevant legal provisions leading to India's withdrawal from this significant mega trade deal, the reasons behind India's refusal of those provisions, the possibility of isolationism India might face, and geopolitical changes in Sino–India relations post stand-off on the Galwan Valley as well as the COVID-19 pandemic It argues that unbalanced economic relations, India's self-reliant ideology, as well as China's growing hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region are among the principle factors for India to back out from the RCEP However, the door to participate in the future remains open for India © 2021 Center for International Studies, Inha University

Bond market and macroeconomic stability in East Asia: a nonlinear causality analysis

Abstract: This study investigates whether dynamic bond markets lead to more macroeconomic stability in eight East Asian countries by distinguishing between advanced and emerging economies. Contrary to previous studies, we relax the strong assumption of homogenous investors by adopting a frequency approach based on the wavelet methodology to measure the relationship between the bond market and macroeconomic stability through both the time and frequency dimensions. Our analysis reveals three main findings. First, the interaction between the bond market and macroeconomic variables is more pronounced in emerging economies than in developed economies. Second, the relationship between the bond market and macroeconomic indicators varies over time, as it is more pronounced during turmoil periods, and across frequencies, as we show that the relationship is observed in the short and medium (long) term for emerging (advanced) East Asian economies. Third, there is divergence in the relationship regarding the level and volatility of the macroeconomic indicators. Indeed, for emerging economies, the relationship is more pronounced in the first moments; however, for advanced economies, it is more pronounced in the second moments.