This book introduces an interdisciplinary approach to the study of Japanese foreign direct investment determinants, the close relations between foreign investment and trade flows in the host country, and the effects and responses by the local economy. It provides an accessible and comprehensive view of the overall macro impacts and local effects associated with the increasing flow of Japanese firms to Mexico’s automotive industry. The research and its outcomes presented here follow extensive fieldwork and use unique statistical datasets to integrate qualitative and quantitative approaches to the analysis. Carefully chosen case studies produce an integrated approach to the subject. As a result, the book fills a vacuum on this topic and provides readers with a clear understanding of the complex interactions among participating actors: Japanese multinationals and Japanese parts-and-components suppliers, Mexican local suppliers, government at the national and local levels, and cooperating Japanese agencies. By critically assessing current theories and empirical methodologies the monograph covers aspects related to the creation of regional production networks and their impact on trade patterns of the recipient country, location determinants of Japanese foreign investment, and spillover externalities in host entities. It presents the reader with a comprehensive view of the different levels of interaction between multinational firms, local recipient economies, and local suppliers and the challenges they face to engage in global chains of production. The book is highly recommended to academics and their students who seek to understand the complex international economic relations in the global economy. This compilation also serves as a valuable guide to policy makers, both at national and local levels, as it provides an informed analysis of how to engage local suppliers in regional and global production chains.

This book provides an overview and analysis of the increased presence of European investors in Latin America, in addition to presenting the results of a survey carried out in the major European investor countries whose aim was to analyze corporate investment strategies in Latin America.

Drawing on numerous Japanese and non-Japanese primary and secondary sources, this highly informative book analyzes all aspects (both domestic and international) of foreign direct investment made by Japan's multinational corporations in Asia, the European Union, and the U.S. It covers the critical period from 1970 -- the point at which Japan's economy reached a level of global importance -- through 1998 -- the nadir of Japan's economic woes. The book offers numerous perspectives to explain the changing characteristics of Japan's FDI practices over the period. The text is well supported by some 50 figures and data tables compiled from both Japanese government ministries and multinational corporations.