WMF03400 Regional Analysis

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2026Year School/Graduate School Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Management Sciences Program

Lecture Code WMF03400 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name 地域分析

Subject Name
（Katakana）チイキブンセキ

Subject Name in
English Regional Analysis

Instructor SHIBATA HIROKI,AKIYAMA TAKASHI

Instructor
(Katakana) シバタ　ヒロキ,アキヤマ　タカシ

Campus Higashi-Senda Semester/Term 1st-Year, First Semester, First Semester

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (1st) Thur11-12：Higashi-Senda Seminar Rm 4

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face

reading the text and discussion

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 2 Language of Instruction J : Japanese

Course Level 6 : Graduate Advanced

Course Area（Area） 24 : Social Sciences

Course Area（Discipline） 04 : Management

Eligible Students

Keywords Self-reliance and sustainability of the regional economy, Policy analysis, Regional input-output table, Economic circulation,Industrial promotion policies,The declining birthrate issue,Outmigration of young people,Measurement and visualization of subjective perceptions, Evidence-Based Policy Making (EBPM)

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)

Class Objectives
/Class Outline In the growing movement toward Evidence-Based Policy Making (EBPM), objective empirical analysis has become essential in the policy design process. This trend is increasingly important not only at the national level but also in regional policymaking. When developing regional policies, it is crucial to follow a systematic policy analysis process consisting of:
(1) problem definition,
(2) evidence collection,
(3) policy design,
(4) selection of evaluation criteria,
(5) outcome forecasting,
(6) decision-making, and
(7) public communication.
The course Regional Analysis focuses on regions as the unit of analysis and primarily covers stages (1) through (5). Students will learn relevant theories, analytical methods, and data sources used in policy analysis. In class, we examine topics such as prefectural and municipal economies and industries, fertility rates, and population mobility. Using real data and statistical analysis, students will develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to strengthen regional sustainability through collaboration among local governments, businesses, and residents, approaching the issue from both economic and demographic perspectives.

Class Schedule Session 1: Orientation
This session introduces the objectives of the course, key research questions, analytical approaches, and the broader social context of regional analysis. It also explains the scope of analysis, course structure, assessment methods, and reference materials.
Session 2: Structuring the Regional Economy (Production Side) through Regional Input-Output Tables
This session explains how regional input-output tables can be used to visualize and analyze the production structure of a regional economy. Students will also learn how to conceptualize and structure regional economies for effective policy design.
Session 3: Analysis of the Demand Structure of the Regional Economy
Using regional input-output tables, this session examines the expenditure (demand) side of the regional economy. Students will learn how to measure the strength of local economic circulation and understand the significance of enhancing it.
Session 4: Analysis of the Distribution Structure of the Regional Economy
This session analyzes the distribution side of the regional economy using regional input-output tables. It explores how production is translated into income distribution among economic actors and demonstrates how economic analysis connects to demographic issues through distribution mechanisms.
Session 5: Identifying Key Industries
Students will define “key industries” within a regional economy and learn methods to identify them using actual regional input-output data.
Session 6: Economic Circulation Capacity and Population
This session identifies industries that drive local economic circulation and compares them with key industries. It also discusses their significance for community development, population sustainability, and non-economic value.
Session 7: Regional Economic Self-Reliance
This session explains theories of regional economic self-reliance and introduces methods for quantitatively measuring it, including interregional balance of payments analysis and its economic implications. Using interregional input-output tables, students will measure income flows within metropolitan areas and examine the importance of broader regional cooperation for achieving economic independence.
Session 8: The Significance of Regional Efforts to Raise the Birthrate
Shifting to demographic issues, this session analyzes declining birthrates at the regional level. It explains the concept of the total fertility rate (TFR) and discusses why local governments should address fertility decline.
Session 9: Decomposing the Total Fertility Rate into Birth Structure
The TFR will be structurally decomposed into age-specific marriage rates for women and birth-order-specific marital fertility rates. Students will visualize this “birth structure” and examine how regional characteristics appear within it, as well as how to identify policy-relevant issues.
Session 10: Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Birth Structure (1)
This session analyzes socioeconomic factors influencing age-specific marriage rates and birth-order-specific marital fertility rates, focusing primarily on economic conditions, industry, and community development, using empirical data.
Session 11: Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Birth Structure (2)
Continuing the previous session, this class focuses on the role of local communities and other social factors influencing birth structure, supported by empirical data.
Session 12: Subjective Analysis of Fertility
Students will learn methods for measuring, visualizing, and decomposing subjective indicators such as desired number of children and expected number of children. The session also explains their relationship with the observed total fertility rate.
Session 13: Subjective Factors Affecting Desired and Expected Number of Children
This session examines how subjective evaluations-such as perceptions of income, employment status, work-life balance, gender inequality, and social capital-influence individuals’ desired and expected number of children.
Session 14: People’s Aspirations and Regional Choice
Based on survey data of individuals originally from the Chugoku region, this session structures people’s preferences regarding staying in or leaving their hometowns. It analyzes the socioeconomic and subjective factors that shape these decisions.
Session 15: Review and Discussion
In the final session, students will present how regional analysis can be applied to their own research interests or problem awareness. The class will conclude with discussion and reflection.

Evaluation will be based on the submission of a written report (approximately two A4 pages).

Text/Reference
Books,etc. handout made by teacher

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Handouts, Visual Materials

(More Details) none

Learning techniques to be incorporated Discussions

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review

Requirements

Grading Method quality of the discussion

Practical Experience Experienced

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it SDGs_8 SDGs_11

Message

Other

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2026Year	School/Graduate School	Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Management Sciences Program
Lecture Code	WMF03400	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	地域分析
Subject Name （Katakana）	チイキブンセキ
Subject Name in English	Regional Analysis
Instructor	SHIBATA HIROKI,AKIYAMA TAKASHI
Instructor (Katakana)	シバタ　ヒロキ,アキヤマ　タカシ
Campus	Higashi-Senda	Semester/Term	1st-Year, First Semester, First Semester
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(1st) Thur11-12：Higashi-Senda Seminar Rm 4
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face
reading the text and discussion
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	2	Language of Instruction	J : Japanese
Course Level	6 : Graduate Advanced
Course Area（Area）	24 : Social Sciences
Course Area（Discipline）	04 : Management
Eligible Students
Keywords	Self-reliance and sustainability of the regional economy, Policy analysis, Regional input-output table, Economic circulation,Industrial promotion policies,The declining birthrate issue,Outmigration of young people,Measurement and visualization of subjective perceptions, Evidence-Based Policy Making (EBPM)
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Educational Program (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced Evaluation (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Class Objectives /Class Outline	In the growing movement toward Evidence-Based Policy Making (EBPM), objective empirical analysis has become essential in the policy design process. This trend is increasingly important not only at the national level but also in regional policymaking. When developing regional policies, it is crucial to follow a systematic policy analysis process consisting of: (1) problem definition, (2) evidence collection, (3) policy design, (4) selection of evaluation criteria, (5) outcome forecasting, (6) decision-making, and (7) public communication. The course Regional Analysis focuses on regions as the unit of analysis and primarily covers stages (1) through (5). Students will learn relevant theories, analytical methods, and data sources used in policy analysis. In class, we examine topics such as prefectural and municipal economies and industries, fertility rates, and population mobility. Using real data and statistical analysis, students will develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to strengthen regional sustainability through collaboration among local governments, businesses, and residents, approaching the issue from both economic and demographic perspectives.
Class Schedule	Session 1: Orientation This session introduces the objectives of the course, key research questions, analytical approaches, and the broader social context of regional analysis. It also explains the scope of analysis, course structure, assessment methods, and reference materials. Session 2: Structuring the Regional Economy (Production Side) through Regional Input-Output Tables This session explains how regional input-output tables can be used to visualize and analyze the production structure of a regional economy. Students will also learn how to conceptualize and structure regional economies for effective policy design. Session 3: Analysis of the Demand Structure of the Regional Economy Using regional input-output tables, this session examines the expenditure (demand) side of the regional economy. Students will learn how to measure the strength of local economic circulation and understand the significance of enhancing it. Session 4: Analysis of the Distribution Structure of the Regional Economy This session analyzes the distribution side of the regional economy using regional input-output tables. It explores how production is translated into income distribution among economic actors and demonstrates how economic analysis connects to demographic issues through distribution mechanisms. Session 5: Identifying Key Industries Students will define “key industries” within a regional economy and learn methods to identify them using actual regional input-output data. Session 6: Economic Circulation Capacity and Population This session identifies industries that drive local economic circulation and compares them with key industries. It also discusses their significance for community development, population sustainability, and non-economic value. Session 7: Regional Economic Self-Reliance This session explains theories of regional economic self-reliance and introduces methods for quantitatively measuring it, including interregional balance of payments analysis and its economic implications. Using interregional input-output tables, students will measure income flows within metropolitan areas and examine the importance of broader regional cooperation for achieving economic independence. Session 8: The Significance of Regional Efforts to Raise the Birthrate Shifting to demographic issues, this session analyzes declining birthrates at the regional level. It explains the concept of the total fertility rate (TFR) and discusses why local governments should address fertility decline. Session 9: Decomposing the Total Fertility Rate into Birth Structure The TFR will be structurally decomposed into age-specific marriage rates for women and birth-order-specific marital fertility rates. Students will visualize this “birth structure” and examine how regional characteristics appear within it, as well as how to identify policy-relevant issues. Session 10: Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Birth Structure (1) This session analyzes socioeconomic factors influencing age-specific marriage rates and birth-order-specific marital fertility rates, focusing primarily on economic conditions, industry, and community development, using empirical data. Session 11: Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Birth Structure (2) Continuing the previous session, this class focuses on the role of local communities and other social factors influencing birth structure, supported by empirical data. Session 12: Subjective Analysis of Fertility Students will learn methods for measuring, visualizing, and decomposing subjective indicators such as desired number of children and expected number of children. The session also explains their relationship with the observed total fertility rate. Session 13: Subjective Factors Affecting Desired and Expected Number of Children This session examines how subjective evaluations-such as perceptions of income, employment status, work-life balance, gender inequality, and social capital-influence individuals’ desired and expected number of children. Session 14: People’s Aspirations and Regional Choice Based on survey data of individuals originally from the Chugoku region, this session structures people’s preferences regarding staying in or leaving their hometowns. It analyzes the socioeconomic and subjective factors that shape these decisions. Session 15: Review and Discussion In the final session, students will present how regional analysis can be applied to their own research interests or problem awareness. The class will conclude with discussion and reflection. Evaluation will be based on the submission of a written report (approximately two A4 pages).
Text/Reference Books,etc.	handout made by teacher
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Handouts, Visual Materials
(More Details)	none
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Discussions
Suggestions on Preparation and Review
Requirements
Grading Method	quality of the discussion
Practical Experience	Experienced
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it	SDGs_8 SDGs_11
Message
Other
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

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