This book presents a variety of research papers on factories' locations, city systems, and regional development. Consisting of three parts, it provides insights into the locational aspects of firms' activities from a strategic perspective. Part 1 discusses decision-making in the context of location, specifying the motivation for firms to move their factories provided by the corporate tax system. It also presents a case study from East Asia to clarify a mechanism by which firms move factories. Part 2 addresses city systems, offering theoretical clues to understanding why city systems are important to regional economies. It also clarifies from the empirical analysis the relations between city systems and the performances of regional economies. Part 3 investigates the topic of industrial parks, demonstrating how they form a basis for establishing industrial clusters in regional economies. In addition, it examines the economic phases, such as economic disparity, generated in the process of development.

Autorentext
Toshiharu Ishikawa, Faculty of Economics, Chuo University.

Inhalt
Part 1. Locational shift of firms' activities - Functions of locational factors.- 1. Transport Costs in space-geographical models and contradictions.- 2. A role of agglomeration economies in a regional economy.- 3. Corporate income tax system as location factor: case of Japan.- 4. An empirical analysis of locational changes of PC manufacturing firms in East Asia.- 5. Theoretical analysis on location and production composition of industrial park.- Part 2. Analysis of economic roles of city systems.- 6. Economic analysis of city system.- 7. Network analysis of city systems from a economic geographical perspective.- 8.The Relationship between urban system and regional economic performances -Based on the empirical analysis of Shandong province.- Part 3. Economic phases of development policies including establishing industrial parks.- 9. A role of research park in regional economic development in Sweden.- 10. The Evolution of Economic Zones in the Philippines.- 11 Industrial-wise trade effects of ASEAN-plus-one free trade agreements.- 12. Economic disparities generated in process of industrial development in India.