A Study of Changes in Locational Conditions and Adjustments for Companies in China

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23720405
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Human geography
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: ABE Yasuhisa 九州大学, 比較社会文化研究科(研究院), 准教授 (10362302)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 立地調整 / 賃金上昇 / 産業の高度化 / 進出企業の撤退 / 工場移転 / 業務内容の転換 / 人材現地化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Rising wage levels in China have led to changes in the locational conditions surrounding local firms as well as foreign-affiliated companies that have advanced into the country. Using some companies and industrial areas as representative models, we did an empirical analysis of the extent to which locational conditions have changed and the accompanying transformation of location. Among the subjects examined, we concluded that some companies clearly have withdrawn from a location, relocated, or modified their business operations. There are also Japanese-affiliated companies that, through the localization of management personnel, have set out to reduce costs and expand sales. Although privately managed car makers capitalized with Chinese funds have embarked on the development and production of high-value-added luxury cars while grappling with the challenge of advanced industrialization, the reasons for their lackluster results under present conditions require further study of trends.

Free Research Field

人文地理学