Abstract/Summary

This paper examines the location patterns of early overseas multinationals in Britain over the period 1900-1939, together with the factors influencing their location. The London conurbation is shown to have attracted the majority of early multinationals, with significant long term consequences for British regional development. The key attractions of London were its strong market links, industrial estate facilities and (particularly road) transport infrastructure. Cheaper labour in Britain's provincial regions did not generally prove a significant attraction to foreign firms, due to their heavy reliance on female and juvenile labour and the ample supply of such labour in Greater London