Members

Education

Ph.D. in Economics, Graduate School of Economics, Kyoto University
M.Sc. in Economics, Graduate School of Economics, Kyoto University

Research Field

Institutional Economics, Business Economics, Industry and Corporation Study

Research Keywords

Diversity and Evolution of Corporate Systems, Heterogeneity of Firms, Evolutional Adaptation, Structural Compatibility and Transformation

Research Activities and Interests

He has been studying methodology of institutional analysis that can be used to uncover the evolving diversity of corporate systems. On the basis of the theoretical framework of institutional economics, he has attempted to explore the idea that the diversity and evolution of corporate systems can be corroborated by theories vis-?-vis the diversity and evolution of capitalism, which are approached nationally, at the macro level, and through analyses of corporate systems that can stand mid-way between micro and macro-level approaches.
His current research interests center on expanding institutional economic approach to varieties and dynamics of corporate systems and heterogeneity of firms, with a special focus on the relationships among various corporate system composition elements and their structural compatibility and transformation, and focus on questions on mezzo economics analytical approach: What makes firms or going concern keep evolving? Why are there differences among corporate systems? Why do corporate systems evolve with changes in time and space?

Selected Publications

[1] Kim, W.J. (2017) Corporate System, Structural Diversity, and Transformation: A New Approach to Automobile Specialized Groups in Japan and Korea. Kyoto, Japan: Koyo Shobo Publisher. [ISBN: 978-4-7710-2934-7]

[2] Kim, W.J. (2017) ‘The Potential Driving Forces of Wealth Accumulation by South Korea’s Leading Shipbuilding Giants: Wage–Labor Nexus and Dual-Channel Capital Accumulation’. Journal of Economics Library, 4(1): 9-29. [DOI: 10.1453/jel.v4i1.1227]

[3] Kim, W.J. (2016) 'Structural Features and Mechanisms of the Korean Powerhouses: What Makes These Niche Companies Leaders in the Global Market?', Journal of Economics and Political Economy, 3(2): 284-308. [DOI: 10.1453/jepe.v3i2.770]

[4] Kim, W.J. (2015) 'De facto Corporate Governance Mechanisms and Structural Changes in Financing and Ownership: A Comparison of Toyota Group and Hyundai Motor Group', The Kyoto Economic Review, 84(1/2): 46-73.[ISSN: 1349-6786]

[5] Kim, W.J. (2015) 'Transformation Towards Overseas-Oriented Expansion: The Evolution of Hyundai Motor Group's Production Structure', Journal of Economics and Political Economy, 2(2): 235-261. [DOI: 10.1453/jepe.v2i2.223]

[6] Kim, W.J. (2014) 'An Institutional Economic Approach to the Low-Cost Production System: The Wage-Labour Nexus in Hyundai Motor Group', Evolutionary and Institutional Economics Review, 11(1): 19-40. [DOI: 10.14441/eier.110102]

[7] Kim, W.J. (2014) 'The Low-Cost Production System of Hyundai Motor Company in Korea: Focused on the Wage-Labour Nexus', In H. Uemura, H. Uni, A. Isogai, & T. Yamada (Eds.), Asian Capitalism in Transition, pp. 283-302, Tokyo: Fujiwara Shoten. (In Japanese)[ISBN: 978-4-89434-963-6]

[8] Kim, W.J. (2013) 'The Evolution of a Corporate System: The Case of Production and Employment Structures in Toyota Group', The Kyoto Economic Review, 82(1/2): 31-58.[OCLC: 957947175]