Since the 1970s, there have been many changes to the ways in which Japanese firms have conducted business. The editors of this volume examine the strategies of Japanese subsidiaries in the new global economy and present, in four parts, a comprehensive picture of the nature of Japanese multinational enterprises.The book addresses the overall nature of Japanese investment in international markets, and its broader implications for corporate performance. The entry mode choice and its relationship to performance is then examined, in an attempt to establish overall trends in the performance of various modes. The focus then shifts explicitly to joint ventures since nearly half of all Japanese subsidiaries take this form. Finally, the management strategies that Japanese firms have used in their foreign subsidiaries are investigated. Japanese Subsidiaries in the New Global Economy utilizes empirical analyses based on a very large, longitudinal data set, coupled with state of the art conceptual development. This volume provides a complete current picture of the international strategy of Japanese firms, which will be both useful and informative for researchers, scholars and policy makers in international business, international economics, foreign investment, joint ventures and expatriate management.

Japanese Multinationals in the Global Economy goes beyond traditional methods of research in international business by providing new simple data comparisons on the global operations of Japanese firms. A key aim of this book is to encourage other researchers to explore a new data source and expand and shape their own studies on multinationals. This book will be a significant addition to the debate on the behaviour of multinational firms because it avoids the problems and restrictions involved using national government data and individual case studies. The book presents key information based on the most extensive samples of multinationals at the subsidiary level using both cross sectional data and data over time. The authors provide a direct comparison of US subsidiaries, using the established Harvard Multinational Enterprise database, and Japanese subsidiaries, using the much less well-known Toyo Keizai annual data. Key features include: * a summary description of the Toyo Keizai database * comparisons of Japanese and US multinationals based on the dates the subsidiaries entered the parent's system, annual sales levels and the equity level of the subsidiary * the data includes employment levels, expatriate management, ownership patterns and joint venture ownership structures * new data on the performance of Japanese subsidiaries is measured using several dimensions and illustrates important recent trends After each data set the authors briefly discuss the information available pointing the way for new research and more in-depth analysis. This book will be a vital source for international business researchers and corporate managers as well as government agencies and international organizations concerned with multinational enterprises, trade theory and business strategy, international economics, organizational behaviour and business history.