FACULTY
CHIHIRO SHIMIZU
Graduate School of Social Data Science/Professor
Field of Study
Index Number and Theory
Applied Econometrics
Economic Measurement
INTERVIEW
Unique Appeal of the Social Data Science Program
Social Data Science is a new interdisciplinary field. While data science has become widespread and many data scientists have emerged, there is a global shortage of highly specialized professionals who can effectively leverage social science to identify current and future challenges facing households, businesses, governments, and the world at large. These professionals must be able to design solutions that address these challenges and use data science knowledge and techniques to formulate effective solutions. This shortage is not limited to Japan but is a global issue. Our aim is to cultivate professionals who can play an active role in solving diversifying social issues by combining advanced knowledge and techniques from social sciences such as law, political science, economics, and sociology, with advanced data science expertise. Our faculties and graduate schools offer a unique opportunity for individuals who share our high aspirations and seek to make a meaningful impact in the world.
Innovative education and research encouraged in the Social Data Science Program
Data science technology is rapidly evolving and so are social issues. While it is essential to stay abreast of cutting-edge technologies, having strong basic skills is equally important. Professionals equipped with strong fundamentals can adapt to new technologies with ease. In education, our goal is to cultivate professionals with a strong foundation and the ability to upgrade themselves independently when new technologies emerge. As the statistical analysis and multivariate analysis techniques that I specialize in are traditional data analysis methods, they form the backbone of machine learning, which has been rapidly evolving in recent years. In my lectures on "Quantitative Analysis of Space and Real Estate" and "Big Data and Price Indexes," I incorporate the results of my own research and the most advanced research findings in the field worldwide. Our research is aimed at continuously improving the quality of our specialized lectures.
CLASS
- (U)Spatial and Realty Data Analysis
- (U)Multivariate Analysis
- (G)Advanced Statistical Analysis (practice)
- (G)Big Data and Index Theory
RESEARCH
Research Website
Every day, millions of goods and services are traded in our economic society, yet it is impossible to observe them all. For centuries, accurately mapping economic activity has been a challenge, and various indexes have been developed to compare aggregate quantities across regions, countries, and the world over time and space. In my research, I use big data to elucidate price formation mechanisms and economic activities, and to develop new indices. These indices range from government statistics such as the Consumer Price Index and GDP to Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used by companies and in competitive sports. We measure a wide range of economic and social activities and develop indices, starting with land, housing, and real estate price indices - considered the most challenging economic measurements - to non-market environmental values, and indices for competitive sports such as soccer. Our research covers a wide range of economic and social activities, enabling us to develop diverse indices that provide insights into various economic and social phenomena.
Keywords
- Property Price Index
- Consumer Price Index
- Economic Measurement
- Spatial Econometric Analysis
- Environmental Value Measurement and International Capital Investment