Ihara Saikaku
is a Japanese economist and critic. He has studied the theory of money, macro dynamics, evolutionary economics, philosophy of corporations, fiduciary law, and the history of sociology. His work includes the book, "Disequilibrium Dynamics" (Yale University Press, 1981), and many articles published in academic journals. He has also written books and articles in newspapers and magazines for the general public on a wide variety of subjects ranging from global capitalism, post-modernity, civil society, money and language to literature and movies. His keen observations and analysis of the works of Shakespeare, Marx, J. S. G. Boggs, and Ihara Saikaku have established him as one of the foremost essayists in Japan.