Tadashi Hirai

Dr. Tadashi Hirai is a Full Professor at IQS, affiliated with the Department of Economics and Finance. His research focuses on human development, sustainable development goals, ethics in development, happiness studies, and trust economics.

• PhD in Territorial Economics (Development Studies), University of Cambridge (2011)
• MA in Territorial Economics (Development Studies), University of Cambridge (2005)
• BA in Language and Area Studies (German, French, and International Law), Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (2002)

Dr. Hirai’s work is centered on interdisciplinary research at the intersection of sustainability, socioeconomic dynamics, and ethical frameworks. He actively contributes to studies on poverty, inequality, education, social exclusion, and environmental convergence through his leadership in the SEE (Sustainability, Economics, and Ethics) research group.

His professional experience includes roles as Affiliated Professor and Research Associate at the Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge (2017–2023), and Research Associate positions at the Institute for Advanced Asian Studies, University of Tokyo (2011–2017). He has also worked as an International Consultant for the United Nations Development Programme in Brazil (2009).

As head of the SEE research group, Dr. Hirai collaborates on projects addressing poverty, inequality, aporophobia (rejection of the poor), and the ethical dimensions of sustainable development. His teaching and research integrate cross-disciplinary perspectives to tackle global challenges.