Summary Report of KIMAP Guest Lecture by Dr. Katsushi Imai
On April 24, 2026, Dr. Katsushi Imai from the University of Manchester delivered a special lecture titled “Academic Writing: From First Draft to Final Publication” at Kobe University. Dr. Imai, who currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the internationally renowned journal Review of Development Economics (RDE), shared invaluable insights into the lifecycle of academic publishing based on his dual experience as a prolific researcher and a journal editor. This lecture provided a condensed two-hour version of a two-year training program supported by the British Academy, which typically focuses on early-career researchers in Thailand and Vietnam. The session was held during Dr. Wolf’s “KIMAP Intermediate Microeconomics” class and was attended by a diverse audience, including undergraduate students, KIMAP and general Master’s students, Ph.D. candidates, and faculty members.
The lecture focused on essential strategies for navigating the rigorous standards of high-impact international journals, particularly in the field of economics. Dr. Imai introduced the concept of the “degree of abstraction” to help researchers enhance the innovation and generalizability of their research ideas. He also emphasized the critical role of the introduction — especially the first three paragraphs — in overcoming initial editorial screenings and avoiding desk rejection. Furthermore, the session provided expert advice on handling “Revise and Resubmit” (R&R) decisions, highlighting the importance of maintaining a professional tone and providing meticulous, point-by-point responses to reviewer feedback. The lecture concluded with practical case studies of actual journal submissions and a Q&A session, providing participants with a clear roadmap for successful international academic careers.
