It is noted that utilization of ASEAN Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) is low by international standards. In order to clarify the reasons for such low utilization, this paper investigates what kinds of Japanese affiliates in ASEAN are more likely to use FTAs in their exporting, by employing unique...

Japan is now struggling for a recovery from the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011. Although trunk logistic infrastructure has quickly been restored, some local infrastructure is likely to take a longer time to re-establish. The theory of new economic geography suggests that...

Let’s dream of our bright and prosperous future. In the year of 2020, sixteen East Asia Summit (EAS) member countries can reach doubled per capita income compared with their income level in 2008 with proper policy guidance; eight countries may join developed countries with per capita income...

The aim of this paper is to extensively review empirical studies that analyze the globalization phenomena by using micro data. First, we set up a flow chart describing how the policy measures on globalization lead to national productivity enhancement. Second, we summarize the hypotheses and the...

In this paper, we empirically investigate the relationship between exchange rate volatility and international trade, focusing on East Asia. Our findings are summarized as follows: first, intra-East Asian trade is discouraged by exchange rate volatility more seriously than trade in other regions....

The East Asia Industrial Corridor Project, in particular the Southern Corridor and its extension, can be a path-breaking effort for attaining both deepening economic integration and narrowing development gaps. New economic thoughts claim the necessity of comprehensive approach in which various...

The unprecedented development of production networks in East Asia has been investigated, both theoretically and empirically, employing the conceptual framework of fragmentation theory and its extensions. However, the benefits of production fragmentation at the firm level, particularly benefits...

This paper argues that a variety of firm specificity supported by sophisticated inter-firm relationships is essential for understanding the mechanics and spatial structure of international production/distribution networks in East Asia. By mapping the two-dimensional fragmentation framework...

Although the impact of financial crisis originated from North America and Europe has come to East Asia through both the financial link and the real economy link, the East Asian countries have so far largely responded to it calmly and cautiously. There are now a lot of reasons wy we should invets...

This paper extensively reviews empirical studies that analyze the various impacts of the globalization phenomenon on corporate activities by using micro data. First, we set up a flow chart describing how globalization leads to national productivity enhancement. Secondly, we summarize the...