This study explained the spatio-temporal proximity, present in the distribution of local agricultural products, as one of the test cases of data science application to regional economic studies. We collected accurate data from field surveys not presented in government statistics or the surveys conducted by local governments, and created, processed, and edited spatial data from such survey information. The processed data illustrates spatial-proximity for out-of-market distribution using shipment distance, routes, and density data derived from 173 answers; for example, the average distance of out-of-market distribution and of market distribution was approximately 3.7 km and 5.6 km, respectively. The temporal-proximity for from-harvest-to-shipment from 190 answers revealed extremely short period of time-within around 24 hours. Although “proximity” has been traditionally subjected to conceptual discussion due to lack of accurate data, data science has enabled us to analyze it quantitatively considering the actual situation. New emerging data collection tools would help us to uncover a variety of phenomena in local economies.

This paper argues industrial policy as part of the policy aiming at “sustainable city”. This paper considers characteristics of cities today as open complex consist of various factors. The economy and society of cities and regions are basically open system. While they are placed in competition from outside of the region economically, free population movement and information flow, cities can be considered as social entity with certain unity, based on geographical location and topographical conditions, in which components such as structure of citizens, local communities formed historically, and industries locate are influenced each other and supplemented by the policies of governments central and local. The purpose and theoretical contribution of this paper lies to propose the viewpoint that connects on one hand the overall picture of the regional economy and society as an open and dynamic complex, and on the other hand arguments relate to regional industrial policy with sustainable city as overarching target. It will be necessary, to confirm the validity of such viewpoint, to accumulate concrete examples. This paper examines, as a step in such endeavor, the cases of three regions in Sweden. Section 2 argues the role of regional system, in which regional industry, communities, and industrial support projects are integrated, through the case of the area where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have accumulated. Section 3 argues the policy that are mutually complementary to conservation of forests as environmental resources and maintenance of local community, through the case of peripheral area rich in forest resources. Section 4 argues industrial policy of the region put under the direct influence of global company through the case of region with automotive industry.