Foreign investment, divestment and relocation by Japanese electronics firms in East Asia
Abstract
Although foreign divestment and international relocation by multinational firms carry important economic implications for the industrialization of East Asian countries, there has been little empirical research on these issues. In this paper we analyze the magnitude and pattern of foreign divestment and relocation by Japanese electronics firms in nine East Asian countries during 1995–2003. The average annual divestment rate of electronics manufacturing affiliates is 3 percent, but divestment patterns diverge strongly across countries. Divestments are much more frequent in higher labor cost countries and in approximately one-third of cases are accompanied by relocations to lower wage countries, particularly to China. Evidence is found for rivalry between China and ASEAN countries in attracting foreign direct investment, but the growing attractiveness of China has not been accompanied by a reduction in employment in Japanese affiliates in ASEAN countries (with the exception of Singapore). Divestments and relocations are related to Japanese firms’ strategy to reconfigure their Asian production networks in response to changing competitiveness, regional integration, and changes in local investment environments.Download Info
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Paper provided by Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in its series Open Access publications from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven with number urn:hdl:123456789/120517.Length:
Date of creation: 2006
Date of revision:
Publication status: Published in Asian Economic Journal (2006) v.20, p.1-27
Handle: RePEc:ner:leuven:urn:hdl:123456789/120517
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Web page: http://www.kuleuven.be
Related research
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- René Belderbos & Jianglei Zou, 2006. "Foreign Investment, Divestment and Relocation by Japanese Electronics Firms in East Asia ," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 20(1), pages 1-27, 03.
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Citations
Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.Cited by:
- Ren� Belderbos & Jianglei Zou, 2007.
"On the growth of foreign affiliates: multinational plant networks, joint ventures, and flexibility,"
Journal of International Business Studies,
Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 38(7), pages 1095-1112, December.
- Belderbos, Rene & Zou, J, 2007. "On the growth of foreign affiliates: Multinational plant networks, joint ventures, and flexibility," Open Access publications from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven urn:hdl:123456789/120601, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.
- Jesús F. Lampón & Pablo Cabanelas-Lorenzo & Santiago Lago-Peñas, 2013. "Why firms relocate their production overseas? The answer lies inside: corporate, logistic and technological determinants," Working Papers 2013/3, Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB).
- Fukunari Kimura & Ayako Obashi, 2011.
"Production Networks in East Asia : What We Know So Far,"
Microeconomics Working Papers
23216, East Asian Bureau of Economic Research.
- Fukunari Kimura & Ayako Obashi, 2011. "Production Networks in East Asia : What We Know So Far," Trade Working Papers 23216, East Asian Bureau of Economic Research.
- Kimura, Fukunari & Obashi, Ayako, 2011. "Production Networks in East Asia: What We Know So Far," ADBI Working Papers 320, Asian Development Bank Institute.
- Rünno Lumiste, 2006. "Migration of Electronics Production. Optimisation of Technology or Labour Costs?," Working Papers 148, Tallinn School of Economics and Business Administration, Tallinn University of Technology.
- Coucke, K. & Sleuwaegen, L., 2007. "Offshoring as a Survival Strategy in Globalizing Industries: New Evidence from Belgian Manufacturing," Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School Working Paper Series 2007-13, Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School.
- Tony Tong & Jing Li, 2008. "Real options and MNE strategies in Asia Pacific," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 153-169, January.
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