ABSTRACT
The chapter explores the attractiveness behaviour of the Lombardy region and of the metropolitan city of Milan towards inward foreign direct investments (FDIs). Specifically, it analysed the key role played by the “city” as privileged location for multinational enterprises, and the geography of firm location. In 2015, Milan attracted about 34 per cent inward FDIs in Italy, employing 30.4 per cent of workers, and producing about 34 per cent of turnover. Besides, while the headquarters of FDIs in knowledge intensive services privilege the Milan central area, wholesale, retail trade, and transport and logistics firms tend to be sprawled outside – but near to – the city to overcome excessive agglomeration and congestions problems.
