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On the Evolution of the Spatial Economy with Multi-unit/Multi-plant Firms: The Impact of IT Development

Author

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  • Fujita, Masahisa
  • Gokan, Toshitaka

Abstract

This paper examines how the decline of communication costs between management and production facilities within firms and the decrease in trade costs of manufactured goods affect the spatial organization of a two-region economy with multi-unit/multi-plant firms.The development of information technology decreases the costs of communication and trade costs. Thus, the fragmentation of firms is promoted. Our result indicates that, with decreasing communication costs, firms producing low trade-cost products (such as consumer electronics) tend to concentrate their manufacturing plants in low wage countries. In contrast, firms producing high trade-cost products (such as automobiles) tend to have multiple plants serving to segmented markets, even in the absence of wage differentials.

Suggested Citation

  • Fujita, Masahisa & Gokan, Toshitaka, 2004. "On the Evolution of the Spatial Economy with Multi-unit/Multi-plant Firms: The Impact of IT Development," IDE Discussion Papers 16, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO).
  • Handle: RePEc:jet:dpaper:dpaper16
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Amitrajeet A. Batabyal & Hamid Beladi, 2014. "Innovation Driven Economic Growth in Multiple Regions and Taxation," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 37(4), pages 459-472, October.
    2. Gokan, Toshitaka & Kichko, Sergey & Thisse, Jacques-François, 2019. "How do trade and communication costs shape the spatial organization of firms?," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    3. Toshihiro Okubo & Eiichi Tomiura, 2016. "Multi-plant operation and corporate headquarters separation: Evidence from Japanese plant-level," Keio-IES Discussion Paper Series 2016-016, Institute for Economics Studies, Keio University.
    4. OKUBO Toshihiro & TOMIURA Eiichi, 2016. "Multi-plant Operation and Corporate Headquarters Separation: Evidence from Japanese plant-level panel data," Discussion papers 16002, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    5. Danielle Galliano & Nicolas Souli�, 2012. "Organizational and Spatial Determinants of the Multi-unit Firm: Evidence from French Industry," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(7), pages 907-926, October.
    6. Okubo, Toshihiro & Tomiura, Eiichi, 2016. "Multi-plant operation and headquarters separation: Evidence from Japanese plant-level panel data," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 12-22.
    7. Tomoya Mori & Tony E. Smith, 2009. "A Reconsideration of the NAS Rule from an Industrial Agglomeration Perspective," KIER Working Papers 669, Kyoto University, Institute of Economic Research.
    8. Kenmei Tsubota, "undated". "Location and organization choice of firms," KIER Working Papers 679, Kyoto University, Institute of Economic Research.
    9. Tsubota, Kenmei, 2012. "Multiplant strategy under core-periphery structure," IDE Discussion Papers 346, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO).
    10. KONDO Keisuke, 2015. "Input-Output Linkages of Japanese Affiliates in Mexico within NAFTA," Discussion papers 15143, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    11. Maria Florencia Granato, 2011. "REGIONAL NEW ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY (refereed paper)," ERSA conference papers ersa10p747, European Regional Science Association.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Agglomeration; Headquarters; Plants; Supply chain; Re-location; Monopolistic competition; Information technologies (technology); International division of labor; Costs; Communication; International trade; 情報技術; 国際分業; コスト; コミュニケーション; 貿易;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • R13 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - General Equilibrium and Welfare Economic Analysis of Regional Economies

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