Draft Agenda

Open Economies and the Challenge of Innovation: Policy Options in an Era ofRising Populism and Economic Nationalism
19-20 April 2018

Populist and nationalist pressures in Europe and the United States are calling into question some of thecore assumptions underpinning globalization and the integrative elements of international trade andfinance. In response, a number of national governments, including Japan, have reinforced theircommitment to international institutions and stressed the mutual benefits of maintaining an open global
economy.
In partnership with the Japan Economic Foundation, this invitation-only roundtable will explore how
policy innovation in trade, social and welfare policy, and the technical changes associated with the Fourth
Industrial Revolution, are helping to offset some of the negative effects of rising economic nationalism.
It will consider the resilience of free trade initiatives in Europe, Asia and North America and thesustainability of traditional, mass employment in advanced economies in the face of technical change. It
will also consider how best individual economies can respond to major demographic challenges - both
aging and migration - in developing appropriate social welfare policies. It will also explore the role ofentrepreneurship and technical innovation in fostering long-term growth and rising productivity inadvanced economies.

Thursday 19 April
19:00-

Welcome dinner for speakers and selected participants
Alto Room (first floor)
The Cavendish Hotel
81 Jermyn StreetLondon SW1Y 6JF+44 (0)20 7930 2111

Friday 20 April
Location: Henry Price Room, Chatham House
10:15-10:30

Registration
Tea & coffee

10:30-11:00

Welcome remarks & introductions
John Nilsson-Wright, Senior Research Fellow, Asia Programme
Kazumasa Kusaka, Chairman & CEO, Japan Economic Foundation (JEF)

www.chathamhouse.org

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11:00-12:30

Session 1: Globalization, rising populism and economic nationalism and freetrade• What explains the rise of populist politics in Europe and the United States? Are
there generalizable patterns behind this trend, how durable is it, and to whatextent is it contributing to economic nationalism?

• How does the reaction against globalization contribute to trade protectionism
and what can and should be done to combat this tendency?

• If trade liberalization and free-trade agreements contribute to fewer workers in
traditional manufacturing employment in advanced economies and, byextension, fuel the populist phenomenon what can be done to offset thenegative impact of trade liberalization?
Speakers:
Sota Kato, Executive Director and Senior Fellow, The Tokyo Foundation for
Policy Research
Matthew Goodwin, Associate Fellow, Europe Programme, Chatham HouseThe Rt Hon The Lord Andrew Lansley, Leader, House of Commons and Lord
Privy Seal (2012-14)
Chair: Edwina Moreton OBE, Associate Fellow, International Security
Department, Chatham House
12:30-13:30

Lunch
Niall Malcolm Room

13:30-15:00

Session 2: Immigration, aging society and the political economy of social welfare
and healthcare• To what extent does immigration and aging weaken social welfare provision?
How might these negative effects best be addressed, and how have individual
European countries (for example, the UK, France, Germany and Sweden)sought to address the disruptive effects associated with aging and long-termimmigration?

• How is the Abe administration preparing to meet the increased social needs ofJapan’s growing elderly population?

• Does the experience of Japan’s post-retirement population offer useful lessonsfor UK/Europe facing similar issues – either in terms of maintaining cohesivesocial communities or in addressing the fiscal pressures associated with pension
provision in a greying society?
Takashi Unayama, Associate Professor, Hitotsubashi University
Kristin Surak, Senior Lecturer in Japanese Politics, School of Oriental andAfrican Studies
Peter Matanle, Senior Lecturer in Japanese Studies, School of East AsianStudies, University of SheffieldPage 3 of 3

Chair: Sebastian Lechevalier, Director of Studies, L’École des Hautes Études enSciences Sociales (EHESS)
15:00-15:20

Tea/coffee break
Niall Malcolm Room15:20-17:10

Session 3: Productivity, educational and technological innovation and the growthof smart cities• What challenges will the new technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolutionpose for human well-being in advanced economies?

• Will the current high unemployment rate in Europe be aggravated by theFourth Industrial Revolution? What are the potential consequences for the UKof failing to adequately address these challenges?

• What role does entrepreneurship, especially among start-up companies, play infostering productivity and growth in developed countries? What role can thepublic sector play in enhancing entrepreneurship? What role have Britishuniversities played in fostering scientific innovation with demonstrable
commercial benefits?

• Japan is developing a reputation for pioneering policy innovation in urban
planning and green growth and sustainable technologies - how is the Abeadministration contributing to this change and what role does bureaucratic,
corporate and educational innovation play in fostering these developments?

• What opportunities exist for enhanced UK-Japanese collaboration via
programmes supported by, for example, the Japan Science and Technology
Agency?
Toshiyuki Shiga, Chairman and CEO, Innovation Network Corporation of Japan;
Member, Board of Directors, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.
Hugh Whittaker, Professor in the Economy and Business of Japan and Director,
Nissan Institute of Japanese Studies, University of Oxford
Patricia Nelson, Visiting Fellow, Japan Chair, Center for Strategic andInternational Studies
Chair: Naoyuki Haraoka, Executive Managing Director, JEF
17:10-17:20

Closing remarks
John Nilsson-Wright, Senior Research Fellow, Asia Programme, Chatham House

17.20-18.15

Drinks reception
Niall Malcolm Room, Chatham House