Economic and fMRI experiments on the associations between language and social preferences

• Project/Area Number: 16H05951
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Economic theory
• Research Institution: Kindai University
• Principal Investigator: Yamada Katsunori 近畿大学, 経済学部, 准教授 (80533603)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2019)
• Budget Amount: ¥20,410,000 (Direct Cost: ¥15,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥4,710,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥7,280,000 (Direct Cost: ¥5,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,680,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥7,280,000 (Direct Cost: ¥5,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,680,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000)
• Keywords: 社会効用 / 言語 / fMRI / social esteem / self image / 経済実験 / self esteem / social image

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Through this research program, I have completed varieties of projects on social preferences from theoretical and empirical perspectives. In particular, my main project about the relationship between language and social preferences was successfully completed.

I have published six papers at international journals, five out of which were joint works with my coauthors abroad. Furthermore, in 2016 I had a privilege that I could speak about this project in front of distinguished audience of Frontier of Science members at National Academy of Science, US.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

行動・実験経済学の手法で家計の選好パラメーターを測定することで、経済政策効果を向上させることの重要性は、経済学者のみならず行政担当者にも共有されつつある。さらに、選好がそもそもどの様な要因で形成されるのか明らかになれば、行動・実験経済学の知見を政策的に応用する可能性は飛躍的に向上するであろう。

本研究は、選好の形成について近年提唱された有力な仮説を行動実験と神経科学実験の両面で検証する。具体的には、社会効用に注目し、使用言語の文法的特徴が選好形成に与える影響を識別する。さらに、その神経基盤を理解することで、人間の社会・経済活動をより本質的に理解し、より良い政策提言に資することを目的とする。

Research Products

• [Int'l Joint Research] Paris School of Economics(フランス)
• [Int'l Joint Research] Inha University(韓国)
• [Int'l Joint Research] Nangyang Technology University(シンガポール)
• [Int'l Joint Research] Nangyang Tech University(Singapore)
• [Int'l Joint Research] University of California Los Angeles(米国)
• [Journal Article] Pronoun Drop and Prosocial Behavior: Experimental Evidence from Japan (2020)
  • Author(s): He, T, J. Riyanto, S. C. Tanaka, K. Yamada
  • Journal Title: Journal of the Economic Science Association Volume: - Issue: 1 Pages: 13-25
  • DOI: 10.1007/s40881-020-00083-4
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] The Joneses in Japan: Income Comparisons and Financial Satisfaction (2020)
  • Author(s): Clark A, C. Senik, K. Yamada
  • Journal Title: Japanese Economic Review Volume: - Issue: 2 Pages: 351-372
  • DOI: 10.1007/s42973-019-00036-5
  • NAID: 210000173385
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Income-comparison Attitudes in the US and the UK: Evidence from Discrete-choice Experiments (2019)
  • Author(s): Shigeoka, H, K. Yamada
  • Journal Title: Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization Volume: 164 Pages: 414-438
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2019.06.012
  • NAID: 40022346481
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Difference or Ratio: Implications of Status Preference on Stagnation (2018)
  • Author(s): Ono Yoshiyasu、Yamada Katsunori
  • Journal Title: Australian Economic Papers Volume: 57 Issue: 3 Pages: 346-362
  • DOI: 10.1111/1467-8454.12128
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Misperception of economics terms; evidence from a choice experiment in Japan (2018)
  • Author(s): Jung, S., Y. Nakamoto, M. Sato, and K. Yamada
  • Journal Title: International Journal of Applied Behavioral Economics Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Pages: 1-14
  • DOI: 10.4018/ijabe.2018040101
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] When Experienced and Decision Utility Concur: The Case of Income Comparisons (2017)
  • Author(s): Clark, A., C. Senik, and K. Yamada
  • Journal Title: Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics Volume: 70 Pages: 1-9
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2017.07.002
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Pronoun Drop Language and Social Preferences: Experimental Evidence from Japan (2017)
  • Author(s): Johanes Riyanto
  • Organizer: Society for Advancement of Behavioral Economics
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Social Preference: Measurement Issues, Interventions, and Its Origin (2016)
  • Author(s): Katsunori Yamada
  • Organizer: Kavli Frontier of Science
  • Place of Presentation: National Academy of Science(米国)
  • Year and Date: 2016-12-02
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Remarks] Katsunori Yamada Webpage
  • URL: http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~kyamada/
• [Remarks] 日米先端科学シンポジウム
  • URL: https://vimeo.com/195547774