SUZUKI Aya
(Professor/Division of Environmental Studies)
Department of International Studies/Development Economics, Agricultural Economics
Career Summary
1997: Bachelor of Arts, Waseda University
2002: Master of International Development Studies, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies
2008: Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Davis
2008-11: Faculty Fellow, Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development
2008-12: Assistant Professor, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies
2012-15: Lecturer, Department of International Studies, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo
2015-20: Associate Professor
2020-: Professor
Educational Activities
Graduate school: Introduction to Statistics and Quantitative Analysis (E), Development Economics (E)
Research Activities
My main research interest is examining how developing countries can reduce poverty levels. As creating employment opportunities and developing industries are crucial components for this purpose, I have been studying the process of agricultural (particularly high-value agriculture) and industrial development. I mainly conduct empirical research using micro-level data and applied econometrics mehods with a focus on a particular industry.
Literature
1) Suzuki, A. and K. Igei. "Does efficient provision of business development services yield better results for SMEs?: Evidence from a networking project in Thailand." Journal of Development Effectiveness 11(3)(2019): 203-229.
2) Suzuki, A. and V.H. Nam. "Marketing Risks and Standards Compliance: Challenges in Accessing the Global Market for High-value Agricultural and Aquacultural Industries" in Tsunekawa, K. and Y. Todo Edited Emerging States at Crossroads, Springer (2019): 163-184.
3) Suzuki, A., Y. Mano, and G. Abebe. "Earnings, Savings, and Job Satisfaction in a Labor-intensive Export Sector: Evidence from the Cut Flower Industry in Ethiopia." World Development 110(10)(2018): 176-191.
4) Suzuki, A., V.H. Nam, and T. Sonobe. "Willingness to Pay for Managerial Training: A Case from the Knitwear Industry in Northern Vietnam." Journal of Comparative Economics 42(2014): 693-707.
Other Activities
Affiliated associations: Japanese Association for Development Economics (2019-: Board member), Japanese Economic Association, The Agricultural Economics Society of Japan, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association
Others: Affiliated faculty member of the Institute for Future Initiatives (IFI) and of the Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) within the University of Tokyo (2018-), Research project member of the Institute of Developing Economies (2012-19), Visiting researcher of the JICA Research Institute (2015-2020), Editorial board member of the Asian Development Review (2018-)
Future Plan
I plan to study the following topics.
- Effects of international certifications and standards on producers in developing countries
- Effects of agricultural spillovers and producers' social network on the dissemination of agricultural information among producers
- How producers engage in signalling activities in agricultural markets where crop qualities are mixed
Messages to Students
In reality, social issues are often very complex. But if you continue to think of the issue by iterating between the reality on the grounds and theories you learn, gradually you will have a grip on the essence of the issue. At graduate school, I hope that students spend their valuable time in developing their own human capital, which will be useful for their own future as well as for society at large.