Hiroshi Onishi - Retiring in AY2021

At my first appointment, I was in charge of the principles of modern economics; at my second, statistics; and finally, at the Keio University Faculty of Economics, the principles of Marxian economics. So, I was in charge of a series of very important subjects, but what I really wanted to do most was the last one, the principles of Marxian economics. Since I had previously worked on statistics and modern economics, these "principles of Marxian economics" also became very mathematical. In this regard, I would like to thank the Keio University Faculty of Economics for the fact that the majority of its students are admitted through an entrance examination that emphasizes mathematics. As is often said, while they have the weakness of being "weak in geography and history," living in this chaotic society, they still have a strong interest in real-world problems. Therefore, based on this, many excellent students gathered around me. I was truly grateful for this.

I was also pleased that they entered graduate school and took over several of the research projects I was promoting. Mr. L, who joined the doctoral course as an international student, used the Marxian optimal growth model to evaluate and forecast the current state of the macroeconomies of China and South Korea, and he revised the long-term forecast I had made for the Chinese economy. I believe it has become a more persuasive and realistic forecast. In addition, another student, Mr. Y, applied this Marxian optimal growth model to the historical analysis of pre-capitalist societies, and part of this research has been extended by Mr. G to an analysis of fluctuations in business scale disparities in modern industries.

My research in the latter half of my time at Keio shifted from this Marxian optimal growth model to the "proof of the labor theory of value" and "Marxian mathematical political economy," and I was greatly indebted to the graduate students in that research as well. The aforementioned Mr. Y made important contributions to both of these research areas, but he was not the only one; Mr. K and Mr. N also contributed to research on income redistribution policies and changes of government, and on the conflict of interests between classes over immigration policy. Mr. W, who will soon be entering the master's program, is now trying to construct a mathematical model of the bureaucratic system from a Marxist perspective. Since many of them are still enrolled in graduate school, I hope that you will hire and train staff who can provide guidance in "mathematical Marxian economics."

My research at Keio Economics thus proceeded with a focus on the mathematization of Marxian economics, so it is misunderstood as being the complete opposite of the traditional Marxian economics at Keio Economics, but this is not actually the case. Professor Kiyoko Imura's economics was based on a two-sector reproduction schema, and my model also placed decisive importance on being two-sector. Furthermore, contrary to impression, Professor Isamu Kitahara's theory of monopoly price and Professor Seiji Tokiwa's theory of rent were also quite "mathematical." I would very much like everyone to understand this point.

In any case, thank you all for your support. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude.

(Interview conducted in January 2022)