Masahiko Aoki

Pioneering Japanese economist known for comparative institutional analysis and corporate governance theory.

Quick Facts: Who was Masahiko Aoki?

Subject:
Masahiko Aoki
Known for:
Pioneering Japanese economist known for comparative institutional analysis and corporate governance theory.
Born:
1938-04-01
Died:
2015-07-15
Century / Era:
1938s Historical Era Archive
Verified Source:
2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Masahiko Aoki (April 1, 1938 – July 15, 2015) was a Japanese economist, Tomoye and Henri Takahashi Professor Emeritus of Japanese Studies in the Economics Department, and Senior Fellow of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research and Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University. Aoki was known for his work in comparative institutional analysis, corporate governance, the theory of the firm, and comparative East Asian development. Aoki was born in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture in 1938. He received his B.A. and M.A. in economics from Tokyo University in 1962 and 1964. As a university student, Aoki was a communist activist, and one of the leaders of a radical Marxist student activist organization, the Communist League, better known by its German-derived nickname, "The Bund." Writing a number of theoretical tracts under his pen name, Himeoka Reiji, Aoki was also the Bund's primary ideologue and theoretician, and helped drive the Bund's radical behavior during the massive 1960 Anpo protests against the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty.

Career & Major Achievements

After the protests, however, Aoki disavowed his previous stances and moved to the United States to pursue a Ph.D. degree in economics. In 1967, Aoki received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, where he studied under John Chipman and Nobel Laureate Leonid Hurwicz. Aoki became assistant professor at Stanford University in 1967, Harvard University in 1968, and Kyoto University in 1969, where he remained until his promotion to full professor in 1977. In 1984, he returned to Stanford University as a professor of economics, and became professor emeritus of Kyoto University in 2001. In order to focus on research and take a greater role in international activities, he became professor emeritus of Stanford University in 2004.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Since 2011 he served as the Senior Visiting Fellow at the Asian Development Bank Institute in Tokyo. Aoki also held visiting positions at Tokyo University, Keio University, Hitotsubashi University, Harvard University, the London School of Economics, and the Max Planck Institute in Cologne. In 1987–1988, Aoki was a Residential Fellow at the Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study in Uppsala, Sweden. Aoki's research has been also published in the leading journals in economics, including the American Economic Review, Econometrica, the Quarterly Journal of Economics, Review of Economic Studies, the Journal of Economic Literature, Industrial and Corporate Change, and the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organizations. Aoki was the founding editor of the Journal of the Japanese and International Economies.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

  1. 1938 (1938-04-01): Birth of Masahiko Aoki — Pioneering Japanese economist known for comparative institutional analysis and corporate governance theory.
  2. 1960: 1960 Milestone — " Writing a number of theoretical tracts under his pen name, Himeoka Reiji, Aoki was also the Bund's primary ideologue and theoretician, and helped drive the Bund's radical behavior during the massive 1960 Anpo protests against the U.
  3. 1962: 1962 Milestone — in economics from Tokyo University in 1962 and 1964.
  4. 1967: 1967 Milestone — Aoki became assistant professor at Stanford University in 1967, Harvard University in 1968, and Kyoto University in 1969, where he remained until his promotion to full professor in 1977.
  5. 1984: 1984 Milestone — In 1984, he returned to Stanford University as a professor of economics, and became professor emeritus of Kyoto University in 2001.
  6. 1987: 1987 Milestone — In 1987–1988, Aoki was a Residential Fellow at the Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study in Uppsala, Sweden.
  7. 2004: 2004 Milestone — In order to focus on research and take a greater role in international activities, he became professor emeritus of Stanford University in 2004.
  8. 2011: 2011 Milestone — Since 2011 he served as the Senior Visiting Fellow at the Asian Development Bank Institute in Tokyo.
  9. 2015 (2015-07-15): Passing & Historical Legacy — Masahiko Aoki passed away on 2015-07-15, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Masahiko Aoki

True or False: “Masahiko Aoki's early political activism in the 1960s was solely focused on Marxist theory without any subsequent ideological shifts.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While he was initially a radical communist activist, Aoki later disavowed those previous stances to pursue his advanced studies in the United States.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

Frequently Asked Questions about Masahiko Aoki

Who was Masahiko Aoki and what are their primary contributions?

Pioneering Japanese economist known for comparative institutional analysis and corporate governance theory. Origins & Early Life: Masahiko Aoki (April 1, 1938 – July 15, 2015) was a Japanese economist, Tomoye and Henri Takahashi Professor Emeritus of Japanese Studies in the Economics Department, and Senior Fellow of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research and Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University. Aoki was known for his work in comparative institutional analysis, corporate governance, the theory of the firm, and comparative East Asian development. Aoki was born in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture in 1938. He received his B.A. and M.A. in economics from Tokyo University in 1962 and 1964. As a university student, Aoki was a communist activist, and one of the leaders of a radical Marxist student activist organization, the Communist League, better known by its German-derived nickname, "The Bund." Writing a number of theoretical tracts under his pen name, Himeoka Reiji, Aoki was also the Bund's primary ideologue and theoretician, and helped drive the Bund's radical behavior during the massive 1960 Anpo protests against the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty.

When was Masahiko Aoki born and during which historical era did they live?

Masahiko Aoki was born on 1938-04-01 and passed away on 2015-07-15. For complete historical world events during this era, explore the 1938 Chrono-Archive.

Where can I read more verified chronological archives on Masahiko Aoki?

Explore verified primary sources, interactive timelines, and contemporary figures in the 2Day Chrono-Wiki encyclopedia or review the original entry on Wikipedia.

Source: Wikipedia