Data Collection in Extraordinary Times: Thoughts on Universities Transitioning to Online Classes

In an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, many universities have canceled commencement and entrance ceremonies and postponed the start of the new school year. As no one really knows when the situation will return to normal, some institutions have begun conducting classes online. Most universities in Japan had previously never offered online classes, so some people may see our current predicament as an opportunity for increasing online class offerings for the future. I personally expect that the partial transition to online classes will be effective in both reducing the burden that classes place on university faculty and ensuring that they have time to conduct research.

Considering such circumstances, my initial intention for this column was to survey prior economic research relating to online education by universities. After establishment of the Coursera and edX platforms in 2012, Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs) attracted considerable attention among economists, who have conducted studies on online classes and online education (see McPherson & Bacow [2015] for a survey). However, the current online classes being conducted to prevent the spread of COVID-19 involve different circumstances and purposes than the typical online classes mentioned above. It seems that this previous research may not necessarily be helpful in examining the current movement.

To read the full text
https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/columns/a01_0582.html

"Firm age, productivity, and intangible capital"
by HOSONO Kaoru (Faculty Fellow, RIETI) / TAKIZAWA Miho (Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economics, Gakushuin University) / YAMANOUCHI Kenta (Lecturer, Faculty of Economics, Kagawa University)
https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/columns/v01_0143.html

"The WTO's Appellate Body Crisis and Roles to Be Played by Japan"
by KAWASE Tsuyoshi (Faculty Fellow, RIETI)
https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/special/policy-update/084.html

"Drug Repurposing for COVID-19: Exploiting Opportunities"
by NAGAOKA Sadao (Program Director / Faculty Fellow, RIETI)
https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/special/policy-update/083.html

"Coronavirus and climate change"
by ARIMA Jun (Consulting Fellow, RIETI)
https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/columns/a01_0560.html

"Who benefits from trade liberalisation? A case from Japan"
by Youngmin BAEK (Assistant Professor, Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University) / HAYAKAWA Kazunobu (Overseas Research Fellow, Institute of Developing Economies) / TSUBOTA Kenmei (Research Fellow, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization) / URATA Shujiro (Faculty Fellow, RIETI) / YAMANOUCHI Kenta (Lecturer, Faculty of Economics, Kagawa University)
https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/columns/v01_0142.html

"How the Coronavirus Crisis is Affecting Japanese Businesses: Evidence from the Stock Market"
by Willem THORBECKE (Senior fellow, RIETI)
https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/columns/a01_0600.html

"Heterogeneous relationships between automation technologies and skilled labour"
by MORIKAWA Masayuki (President, RIETI)
https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/columns/v01_0141.html

"Machine learning against accounting fraud"
by KONDO Satoshi (Public Accountant, KPMG AZSA) / MIYAKAWA Daisuke (Associate Professor of Economics, Hitotsubashi University Business School (HUB)) / SHIRAKI Kengo (Data Scientist, KPMG AZSA) / SUGA Miki (Lead Specialist, KPMG US) / USUKI Teppei (Senior Manager, KPMG AZSA)
https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/columns/v01_0140.html

"COVID-19 and the Bipolarization of Working Hours: What We Can Do to Alleviate Overwork of Essential Workers"
by KURODA Sachiko (Faculty Fellow, RIETI)
https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/columns/a01_0573.html