Charles Yuji Horioka

Charles Yuji Horioka

Pioneer of Macroeconomic Theory & Leading Expert on the Japanese Economy

Core Intelligence Domain: Economics
Location: Kobe, Japan | Languages: English, Japanese
Representation: Represented globally by PSpeakers Global Intelligence

Charles Yuji Horioka is a highly distinguished economist and a foundational voice in modern macroeconomic theory, globally renowned for his groundbreaking research on international capital mobility, household savings behaviour, and the structural dynamics of the Japanese economy. As a preeminent figure in global economic intelligence, he provides C-suite executives, policymakers, and financial institutions with unparalleled foresight into the macroeconomic shifts defining the Asian markets and the broader global financial architecture.

Professor Horioka cemented his legacy in international economics with the co-discovery of the “Feldstein-Horioka puzzle” alongside Martin Feldstein in 1980. This seminal framework, which highlighted the unexpectedly high correlation between domestic saving and investment rates, continues to influence how international institutions understand global capital flows and financial integration. Beyond this cornerstone achievement, his proprietary research delves deeply into the socioeconomic mechanisms driving household consumption, intergenerational wealth transfers, and the severe economic implications of rapidly ageing populations—metrics that are critical for modern corporate strategy and long-term investment planning.

Currently serving as a Professor at the prestigious Research Institute for Economics and Business Administration (RIEB) at Kobe University, Professor Horioka has held pivotal academic and leadership positions across the globe. His previous tenures include serving as Vice-President and Research Professor at the Asian Growth Research Institute (AGI), as well as a long-standing professorship at Osaka University. His authoritative analyses are frequently sought to decode the structural realities of the Japanese economy and to forecast the trajectory of emerging and developed Asian markets.

Major Achievements & Leadership Positions

• Co-Author of the Feldstein-Horioka Puzzle: Developed one of the most widely cited empirical frameworks in international macroeconomics, fundamentally altering the study of global capital mobility.
• Nakahara Prize Laureate: Awarded the prestigious prize by the Japanese Economic Association for outstanding contributions to the field of empirical economics.
• Fellow of the Econometric Society: Elected globally in recognition of his rigorous advancements in economic theory and applied research.
• Institutional Leadership: Professor at RIEB (Kobe University), former Vice-President at the Asian Growth Research Institute (AGI), and former Professor at the Institute of Social and Economic Research, Osaka University.
• Editorial Authority: Serves extensively on the editorial boards of numerous leading international economic journals, continually shaping the global academic discourse on macroeconomics.

Primary Speaking Themes

• The Structural Realities of the Japanese Economy: Navigating demographic decline, shifting savings rates, and realistic pathways to sustainable growth.
• Global Capital Flows and International Mobility: Strategic insights for multinational corporations and financial institutions operating within highly interconnected global markets.
• The Economics of Ageing Populations: How extreme demographic shifts are fundamentally rewiring consumer behaviour, wealth accumulation, and national fiscal policy.
• Household Economics & Intergenerational Transfers: Understanding the mechanics of private wealth distribution, inheritance motives, and their impact on macroeconomic stability.
• Asian Economic Foresight: Evaluating the structural vulnerabilities, savings behaviours, and competitive advantages of Asia’s leading economies in a shifting global landscape.

Key Takeaways

• Gain proprietary economic foresight from one of the most widely cited and respected minds in modern international macroeconomics.
• Understand the underlying mechanisms of global capital mobility to better inform corporate investment strategy and risk management.
• Acquire actionable, data-backed intelligence on the profound socio-economic effects of ageing demographics on consumer spending and financial markets.
• Leverage decades of rigorous empirical analysis to accurately decode the complex economic environment of Japan and the broader Asian region.