Akihito Aihara.
Akihito AIHARA is currently completing PhD in Economics at School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), The University of London. His research interests include development economics and economics of education and labour markets, especially in Southeast Asia, and his doctoral research is on the political economy of higher education and labour markets in Malaysia.
His most recently presented paper is “Myth and Realities of Human Capital Theory: Evidence from Higher Education and Labour Markets in Malaysia” at the 6th International Malaysian Studies Conference in Kuching, Malaysia. Other recent works include “Unique Provision and Equal Access for All? Evidence from Higher Education in Malaysia,” “Public-Private Differentials and Sector Selection: Evidence from Malaysia”, and “Public-Private Choice in Higher Education and Employment with reference to Ethnicity in Malaysia.”
Previously, he served as researcher/adviser at the political division of the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia where he focused on domestic politics, in particular ruling political parties and political-economic issues.
