News & Announcements
Special Seminar: International Challenges of Japanese MNCs vs. Chinese and Russian Companies, Organized by IRI
The IRI Special Seminar on March 13th, 2025
We were honored to host a mini symposium at IUJ on March 13th, featuring three distinguished guest speakers:
Professor Ralf Bebenroth (Kobe University)
Professor Takuma Kobayashi (Matsuyama University)
Professor Victor Gorshkov (University of Niigata Prefecture)
During this IRI special seminar, they shared fascinating research on the challenges faced by Japanese, Chinese, and Russian multinational corporations (MNCs) in today’s VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) global environment.
Seminar Highlights:
🕒 Introduction by Yingying Zhang, IUJ Research Institute Director
🕒 Prof. Bebenroth: “Corporate Governance Scores: Japanese Acquirers and its Impact on M&A Premium Payments”
🕒 Prof. Kobayashi: “Will Manufacturing Industries Move out of China? An Analysis on the Upgrading of China’s Industrial Structure”
🕒 Prof. Gorshkov: “Internationalization of Russian Financial Multinationals Amid International Sanctions”
The event concluded with an informal social gathering where students and guest speakers engaged in enriching discussions.
Thank you to everyone who participated! Stay tuned for more inspiring seminars at IUJ—your chance to explore a world of ideas.
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Office of Research Institute
ori@iuj.ac.jp
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Hobbes the Critic of Empire? Questioning the Foundations of International Law by Prof. Joorahm Kim
We were thrilled to welcome Prof. Joorahm Kim to our recent IRI Lunch Seminar series.
Prof. Kim, an IUJ faculty member and PhD graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, shared fascinating insights from his research on international law.
His presentation delved into Hobbes’ engagement with the “New World,” challenging the perception of Hobbes as a Eurocentric political theorist.
Prof. Kim examined Hobbes’ critique of Grotius on natural law and sovereignty, shedding light on Hobbes’ rejection of universal natural law as a basis for European intervention.
We look forward to hosting more engaging seminars on a wide range of topics in the future and encourage everyone to participate.
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Office of Research Institute
ori@iuj.ac.jp
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The Long-Run Effects of Federal Student Loans on Fertility and Social Mobility by Prof. Yue Hua
We are delighted to have had Prof. Yue Hua share her insights and research in our recent IRI Lunch Seminar series. Prof. Hua, who obtained her PhD from the University of Minnesota and recently joined IUJ after a research position in Australia, presented her research on evaluating the long-term effects of federal student loans.
Using a lifecycle model that incorporates credit constraints, endogenous fertility, and human capital investment, Prof. Hua estimated the model based on U.S. household survey data from the 2000s. Key findings revealed that federal student loans contribute to lower fertility rates but lead to higher college attendance and increased income, with no significant effects on social mobility. The presentation sparked interesting discussions on the potential implications of student loans in emerging markets and developing countries, where contextual differences could yield varied effects on social mobility.
We look forward to hosting more engaging seminars on a wide range of topics in the future and encourage everyone to participate!
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Office of Research Institute
ori@iuj.ac.jp
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