Japanese Manufacturing Investment in Europe

Book excerpt: Japanese manufacturing investment in the European Community has grown dramatically over the last twenty years. At first, instances of investment were few, concentrated in a small number of industrial sectors. But since the mid-1980's there has been a surge of investment in a much wider range of industries. This volume details the growth of Japanese manufacturing investment in Europe in fourteen industrial sectors. The impact of Japanese competition and direct investment on European industries is considered in the context of the emergence of the three major trading blocs: the United States, Japan and the EC. Roger Strange concludes by making important policy recommendations, and arguing for the need for a new theoretical framework for assessing the political economy of foreign direct investment.