e-NewsletterDecember 1st, 2026
【Webinar on the U.S. after the Midterms】
The U.S. After the Midterm Elections: Outlook for Policy, the Economy, and Financial Markets
Since taking office in January 2025, the Trump administration has had significant influence on the global economy and financial markets through its tariff policies, military strikes against Iran, and other measures. Against this backdrop, the 2026 U.S. midterm elections will provide an important opportunity for voters to express their views on the administration's policy record and the state of the economy. Of particular interest is how voter concerns about inflation and the rising cost of living will be reflected in the election results, and how the administration may adjust its economic policy agenda in response.
In this webinar, we will examine how changes in the composition of Congress could shape the Trump administration's policy agenda and assess the outlook for U.S. economic policy, particularly fiscal and trade policies. We will also explore key issues facing the U.S. economy, including affordability concerns amid elevated prices and trends in AI-related investment, a key driver of economic growth.
Furthermore, we will discuss how changes in economic policy and these broader challenges could affect inflation, economic growth, and employment, as well as the implications for the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy. Finally, we will explore the outlook for the U.S. economy and financial markets in the post-election period, with particular attention to interest and exchange rates.
| Date ＆ Time | Tuesday, December 1, 2026, 15:00-16:30 (JST) |
|---|---|
| Hosted by | The Institute for International Monetary Affairs (IIMA) |
| Progress | Panelist Presentations and Panel Discussion |
| Event Style | Virtual Event via Zoom |
| Language | Japanese (Simultaneous English translation available) |
| To Apply | Click Here |
Panelists
Kazuhiro Maeshima
Professor, American Government and Foreign Policy, Department of Global Studies, Sophia University
Kazuhiro Maeshima is Professor of American Government and Foreign Policy of Department of Global Studies at Sophia University. Currently, he serves as the President of the Japan of Association of Global Governance. He studied at two U.S. universities: Georgetown University (MA in Government) and University of Maryland (MA, PhD. in Government and Politics). Before his scholarly works in the United States, he worked as a print journalist for five years in Japan after finishing his BA degree at Sophia Univ. His research interest centers on American government and political communication. He is the author of many books and articles in those fields, including The Media in American Politics; Media as a Political Actor (in Japanese) and Internet Election Campaigns in the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan (co-edited in English, Palgrave, 2017)
Kazuma Maeda
Chief Economist, Daiichi Life Research Institute Inc.
Kazuma Maeda is a chief economist at Daiichi Life Research Institute, a think tank within the Daiichi Life Insurance Group, specializing in the U.S. economy and monetary policy. He provides insights and outlooks to the Group’s asset management teams and engages in discussions with government officials. Previously, he served as a Japan economist at Daiwa Institute of Research and Barclays Securities Japan. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Keio University and a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of British Columbia.
Moderator
Masatsugu Asakawa
President, Institute for International Monetary Affairs (IIMA)
Masatsugu Asakawa joined the Ministry of Finance, Japan (MOF) in 1981. At MOF, before being appointed as Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs (2015-19), he held several senior positions, including Executive Secretary to the Prime Minister (2008-09), Deputy Vice Minister for Policy Planning and Coordination, and Director-General of the International Bureau. He also held senior roles at the IMF and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Additionally, he served as Chair of the Committee on Fiscal Affairs, OECD (2011-16), and as the President of ADB (2020-25). Since July 2025, he has been the President of the Institute for International Monetary Affairs (IIMA). He earned a BA from the University of Tokyo in 1981 and an MPA from Princeton University in 1985.