Evolution of the Economic Policy Sciences over Decades in the last Century: Focusing upon the Comparison of the Different Economic Systems

Abstract

As a proper discipline of applied social sciences a theory of economic policy has steadily evolved on the foundation of economic sciences as a whole. This evolution must be depend upon some leading scholar with social enthusiasm and endeavor to reform society in order to make a serious increase of human wellbeing. Professor Hiroshi Kato has not only made an invaluable contribution to the progression of economic policy through his academic works, but also devoted all his whole life to educating a great number of students over generations.

　Among a wide scope of the theories of economic policy, Professor Kato’s area of research ranges from inquiry into Modern Economic Growth Policy to Quantitative Analysis of Economic Planning in the Former Soviet Union, studies on Objectives of Economic Policy associated with Value Judgements and Democratic Decision Making Process of Economic Policy, Theory of Comparative Economic Systems and Optimum Society, advocacy of Welfare Society in Japanese Style, at last but not least, reviews on Possibilities of Convergence Theory among Different Systems beyond Ideology and Predictions about Post-Communist Systems.

　The author of this essay will do make a brief review on the evolution of the economic policy as an applied science mainly focusing upon the theory of comparative economic systems in the last century.