Tokuzō Fukuda

Tokuzō Fukuda (福田 徳三 "Fukuda Tokuzō", born February 12, 1874, died May 8, 1930) was a pioneer of modern Japanese Economics. He introduced Economic Theory and Economic History for the Social Policy School and the Younger Historical school of economics.

He graduated from the Tokyo Higher School of Commerce, today's (Hitotsubashi University). After he was appointed lecturer of his Alma Mater, he studied in Germany, among others under Karl Bücher, and he earned his doctorate from Munich University. His thesis dealt with the social and economic development in Japan (original title: "Die gesellschaftliche und wirtschaftliche Entwicklung in Japan") and was supervised by Lujo Brentano.

After returning to Japan, he became professor of his Alma Mater and later at Keiō University.

During Taishō Democracy, he founded the Reimeikai (Dawn Society) and served for the enlightenment of democracy. After World War I, he stood for Democracy (Liberalism), from a critical standpoint towards Marxism, and emphasized the solution of social and labour problems by the government. He is also considered a pioneer of the welfare state idea. As an advisor to the Ministry of Home Affairs, he also worked out policy drafts.