VI. Strengthening Database and Model Operations

• Office of Quantitative Analysis and Databases

In recent years, attention has increasingly focused on the role of non-profit organizations (NPO) in Japan. However, the statistical data needed to estimate their economic scale, industrial structure, and so forth is extremely scarce.

This project will conduct a questionnaire survey of non-profit corporations, collect and compile basic data on their activities, and estimate the overall scale of NPO activity in Japan. In addition, it will build a database to serve as a platform for NPO information that can be used in other research projects.

• Office of Quantitative Analysis and Databases

In recent years, economic analyses using panel data, which longitudinally connect data on the individual, household, establishment, or firm level, have been drawing much attention in the United States and Europe. Meanwhile, in Japan, statistical data collected and compiled by the government's statistics bureaus and divisions are mostly cross sectional data and therefore require substantial time and effort for researchers to convert data from government statistics to panel data. This project will work intensively on compilation of micro-data - a task that has most often been left to individual researchers - and the development of various types of databases mainly for statistical research on companies and business establishments.

More specifically, it will focus on the development of panel data sets that longitudinally link frequently-used micro data of the "Basic Survey of Japanese Business Structure and Activities," the "Basic Survey of Overseas Business Activities," the "Census of Manufactures," and the "Census of Commerce." In addition, we will offer researchers inside and outside RIETI the converting tables to replicate the panel data. The project will also summarize the methods by which the databases were developed and provide an overview of the data sets used.

• Office of Quantitative Analysis and Databases

In Japan there is a growing need for year-by-year statistical data broken down by industrial sector as such data is necessary to conduct comparative analyses of productivity by industry, to develop a general equilibrium model, and thus to enable researchers to trace changes in the industrial structure. To achieve this end, it is indispensable to establish linked input-output tables. Thus, this project aims to develop a new set of basic data for analyzing industrial structure, by connecting previously released input-output tables.

Specifically, it will develop long-term (1980-1985-1990-1995-2000) linked input-output tables of 1995 as the baseline (already compiled) and attempt to maintain long-term link to their supplementary tables (fixed capital matrix and employment matrix), and in addition convert the connected industry input-output table for 2000, which currently uses provisional an "extension table," into a "basic table." In addition, it will attempt to facilitate use of this data by conducting a sample empirical analysis of the factors behind the shift in industrial structure between 1980 and 2000, and by describing the methods used in creation of the database from the compiled data and explaining its use.

• KAINOU Kazunari, F

Japan's General Energy Statistics, which provide the basis for calculation of Japan's energy supply and demand, as well as the volume of carbon dioxide emissions from various energy sources, has become increasingly important with the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol. However, at present, there are still precision issues including the low level of precision in the estimates for the energy-conversion sector and the lack of a clear breakdown by industry for the tertiary industries (commercial/residential sector).

Using a variety of estimation methods, this study will consider measures for improving the precision of estimates in the energy-conversion sector and providing a breakdown of figures by industry in the tertiary sector to support the planning, drafting, and evaluation of environmental policy by upgrading the quality of the General Energy Statistics.

• KAWASAKI Kenichi, CF

With the opening of the new round of the World Trade Organization and the trend toward the creation of free-trade areas in various parts of the world, including East Asia, trade and commerce policymakers are increasingly interested in the effect of liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment on the economy. This project aims to contribute to the decision-making process by carrying out simulation analyses of policy components actually under consideration so as to quantify their costs and benefits.

Regarding FTAs, the team will respond to the requests of various government agencies in carrying out simulations to gauge their macroeconomic effects, as well as the effect on various industries of an FTA between Japan and its current negotiating partners.

With respect to liberalization and facilitation of investment, the team is heading up a project by the APEC Economic Committee to quantify barriers to foreign direct investment in each of the member economies and to estimate the economic effect of removing those barriers.