Takahashi Laboratory conducts empirical research related to technology diffusion and environmental conservation in developing countries, particularly countries in Africa.
We emphasize the use of fieldwork (observation, communication, and data collection) and econometric analysis to provide policy implications.
In order to improve both local and global natural environments, it is critically important to rehabilitate degraded forests in developing countries. However, the debate over whether private or common ownership leads to more sustainable forest management has yet to be resolved.
I have been investigating how different property rights systems affect forest management. In recent years, I proposed that the mixed management system of common and private ownership is a socially optimal management system for rehabilitating forests in developing countries. To empirically test the impact of the mixed management system, I conducted a randomized control trial (RCT) in Ethiopia.
Coffee is traditionally grown in the understory of shade trees, and the agroecosystems of shade-grown coffee preserve the forest. The forest coffee certification scheme seeks to contribute to environmental conservation by promoting traditional coffee production. In the certification scheme, certification organizations motivate producers to maintain their traditional coffee area by offering a premium price.
I have been working on two related research topics: (1) evaluating the impact of certification on forest change by utilizing satellite images and (2) investigating the diffusion factors for certified eco-friendly coffee in Japan by implementing a nationwide social experiment using beverage vending machines.