Scott Pearson in Japan

Scott Pearson, who has studied economic change in developing countries for six decades, taught economic development and international trade at the Food Research Institute at Stanford for 34 years. He has coauthored a dozen books, won several awards for his research and teaching, and advised governments on food and agricultural policy. Scott has worked and traveled extensively in Asia, Africa and Europe. As one of our most versatile faculty leaders, he has accompanied 67 Travel/Study trips, on all seven continents. During this program, Scott will identify the key turning points in Japan’s political and economic history. Japan first unified in the 7th century and emerged from isolation in the mid-19th century to become a leading imperial power. After losing the Second World War, Japan recovered quickly and grew rich. But since 1990, the Japanese economy has stagnated, growing at a paltry annual rate of less than 1 percent. Scott will explain why these shifts have occurred.

• Served on the Stanford faculty from 1968 until his retirement in 2002 as professor of agricultural economics

• Director, Food Research Institute, 1991–1996

• Dean’s Award for Teaching in the School of Humanities and Sciences

• Regularly advised governments in Asia, Africa and southern Europe on food and agricultural policy

• MA, international relations, Johns Hopkins University

• PhD, economics, Harvard University