Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores the implications of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for regional development and it has number of purposes. First, it examines the recent trends in FDI, occurring both internationally and at the UK national and regional levels. The purpose of this is to explore the underlying reason for the upsurge in FDI in recent decades, in terms of its underlying nature and motivations for foreign direct investment that advanced in the academic literature. Second purpose is to review the accumulating literature on FDI, of which two aspects are relevant. One, is the research studies that seek to establish the factors determining FDI location and the other, studies that examines the benefits of FDI to the host economy. The final purpose is to provide in-depth study of foreign direct investment in an English region that has long-term recipient of FDI and regional policy.