The papers in this publication are based on presentations given during the symposium. They give empirical evidence of regional decline in selected peripheries of Japan and Europe and describe the economic and political challenges local and regional governments are facing, as well as showing ways and means to address such challenges at various parts of government. The case-study reports from Japan and Europe made it clear that in times of globalization and structural change, peripheries and the people living and working in the peripheries of the two macro-regions, are not forgotten and that policy makers are well aware of the problems. The discussions confirmed that in market economies and without strong intervention of the public sector, there are no easy recipes to stop territorial concentration in metropolitan regions and to stabilize local and regional economies in the periphery.