Japan and the European Periphery

Book excerpt: The book describes Japanese economic links with peripheral regions in Europe. Focusing particularly on manufacturing investment, the impact of Japanese firms is assessed against a background of increasing European economic integration. The uneven distribution of Japan's economic presence in Europe is emphasised, as is the importance of core economic regions for future investment activity. The growing importance of core regions is then linked to emerging patterns in the growth of science-based industries, as well as efforts by national and regional agencies to attract inward investment.