Chair of Econ. Dept.

Public policy - especially sound public finance and a reliable taxation system - is the cornerstone of economic development for any country. Human resources are essential for designing and implementing effective public policy measures. In today’s globalized society, where multinational enterprises and cross-border capital flows continue to grow, the academic foundation in economics combined with practical skills in public policy has become increasingly vital. As the first nation in Asia to achieve modern economic development, Japan has a responsibility to share its experiences with motivated students from around the world.

With this in mind, Yokohama National University (YNU) launched the Master’s Program in Public Policy and Taxation (PPT Program) in 1996 in cooperation with the World Bank and Japan’s National Tax Agency. The program offered a unique blend of academic coursework in economics and a practicum at the National Tax College. Over the years, the program earned a high reputation both within and outside Japan and stood as the longest-running of its kind in the country. It joined a select group, at that time, of only sixteen global universities with World Bank partnership programs—including Columbia University and Harvard University in the US, and the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) and Keio University in Japan.

After a several-year hiatus, we are pleased to announce the relaunch of the PPT Program in autumn 2026. The renewed program will build on its strong tradition while adapting to the evolving needs of public finance and policy education in a rapidly changing world.

Students selected through a rigorous admissions process will study on our peaceful, tree-lined campus in Yokohama, Japan’s second-largest city with a rich international culture. YNU hosts a vibrant academic community, including around a thousand international students. Our Department of Economics, with a history dating back to the 1920s, offers a comprehensive curriculum ranging from foundational economics to applied policy studies and advanced seminars. We continue to update our curriculum to reflect contemporary policy challenges and emerging methodologies in economics.

We are proud to restart this distinguished program and look forward to welcoming a new generation of talented students in 2026.

We warmly invite applications from bright, motivated individuals who wish to deepen their understanding of economics and contribute to the improvement of public policy and taxation in their home countries.

Morinao Iju
Chair, Department of Economics
Graduate School of International Social Sciences