Foreign Direct Investment In Japan

Foreign Direct Investment in Japan presents a detailed examination of trends of inward foreign direct investment (FDI) and their impact on the Japanese economy. Historically much less open to foreign trade and investment than other major economies, Japan experienced an unprecedented jump in FDI inflows around the turn of the millennium. This book looks at the profound changes in Japan that made this jump possible and considers foreign firms' potential contribution to productivity and overall economic growth. Detailed case studies illustrate that in certain sectors the presence of foreign firms already is a key factor shaping industry dynamics. Yet, despite recent changes, resistance to inward FDI remains strong and the government could do much more if it were committed to attracting FDI. Overall, Japan continues to appear reluctant to embrace fully, and therefore seems unlikely to benefit even more substantially from, globalization.

Investment scholars and practitioners query why direct participation of foreign firms in the Japanese economy is lower than in any other industrialized country, and what if any policy steps the Japanese government could take to increase it. They consider the lingering impact of the ban on the practice until the middle 1970s, the high costs of doing business in Japan such as very expensive land and labor, and traditional business practices including long-term transaction relationships with suppliers and customers and the long-term employment system. The seven studies were presented at an October 1994 conference in Philadelphia. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

The apparent shift of Japan's foreign direct investment from higher- income host countries (such as the United States) toward Asian developing countries (such as China) may create opportunities for sustained growth in these lower income economies. This shift seems to be part of a strategic reorientation that will gradually reduce Japanese dependence on the United States while Japan explores intra- Asian opportunities.

We examine the relationship between Japanese FDI outflows, domestic and foreign fixed investment, and the exchange rate. The results indicate that aggregate FDI outflows have been driven by investment in Japan and the exchange rate, while the geographic distribution of such investment has been influenced by foreign economic conditions. We also find that FDI outflows have a temporary impact on exports but a permanent effect on imports. We find no evidence that behavior with respect to East Asia differs from that with respect to North America or Europe.

Direct foreign investment and the activities of multinational corporations are new dynamic elements in the international economy. This book identifies, theoretically and practically, a Japanese model of multinational business operations which has characteristics differing from the American or "anti-trade oriented" type, and casts light on important policy implications concerning direct foreign investment and multinational corporations. By developing a macroeconomic approach to direct foreign investment, instead of the prevalent explanation from the viewpoint of business administration and industrial organisation, this study adds to current knowledge of the multinational corporation. It endeavours to bridge the gap of separated treatments between international trade and foreign investment, and presents an integrated theory from the viewpoint of a dynamic reorganisation in the international division of labour. The book also includes two introductory surveys on the survey of international division of labour and foreign investment.