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Global Value Chains, Industrial Policy and Economic Upgrading in Ethiopia's Apparel Sector

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  • Lindsay Whitfield
  • Cornelia Staritz
  • Mike Morris

Abstract

This article examines whether low‐income countries can still benefit from participating in manufacturing global value chains (GVCs) in terms of broader industrial development in a global context of greater competition and higher requirements. It contends that developing internationally competitive local firms and domestic linkages, in addition to upgrading, is crucial for participation in GVCs to drive industrialization. The study focuses on Ethiopia's recent experience with developing an apparel export industry through strategic industrial policy. Based on original empirical data collected through firm‐level surveys and interviews with government officials, industry experts and buyers, the article analyses the upgrading and localization trajectories of foreign and local apparel‐exporting firms. It argues that value‐capture benefits in assembly positions in apparel GVCs have become more difficult. The potential for localization benefits depends on the type of global buyers and foreign producers and their levels of embeddedness, but whether this potential is realized also depends on local firm characteristics and related industrial policy. Ethiopia's industrial policy has been relatively successful regarding national economy linkages, but less successful in developing competitive local export firms due to a weak local manufacturing tradition combined with a global context that has led to a supplier squeeze.

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  • Lindsay Whitfield & Cornelia Staritz & Mike Morris, 2020. "Global Value Chains, Industrial Policy and Economic Upgrading in Ethiopia's Apparel Sector," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 51(4), pages 1018-1043, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:devchg:v:51:y:2020:i:4:p:1018-1043
    DOI: 10.1111/dech.12590
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Rory Horner, 2022. "Global value chains, import orientation, and the state: South Africa’s pharmaceutical industry," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 68-87, March.
    3. Telaye Fikadu MULUBIRAN & Asbjørn KARLSEN, 2023. "The role of local stakeholders in transforming economic upgrading into social upgrading in Ethiopian textile and garment firms," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 162(1), pages 45-67, March.
    4. Cuervo-Cazurra, Alvaro & Pananond, Pavida, 2023. "The rise of emerging market lead firms in global value chains," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    5. Giovanni Pasquali & Shane Godfrey & Khalid Nadvi, 2021. "Understanding regional value chains through the interaction of public and private governance: Insights from Southern Africa’s apparel sector," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 4(3), pages 368-389, September.
    6. Doryn Negesa & Wei Cong & Lei Cheng & Lei Shi, 2022. "Development of eco‐industrial parks in Ethiopia: The case of Hawassa Industrial Park," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(3), pages 1078-1093, June.
    7. Yunfei Peng & Fangling Yang & Lingwei Zhu & Ruru Li & Chao Wu & Deng Chen, 2021. "Comparative Analysis of the Factors Influencing Land Use Change for Emerging Industry and Traditional Industry: A Case Study of Shenzhen City, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-17, May.
    8. Lindsay Whitfield & Cornelia Staritz, 2021. "Local supplier firms in Madagascar’s apparel export industry: Upgrading paths, transnational social relations and regional production networks," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 53(4), pages 763-784, June.
    9. Valentina De Marchi & Matthew Alford, 2022. "State policies and upgrading in global value chains: A systematic literature review," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 88-111, March.
    10. Hyunji KWON & Sun Wook CHUNG & Joonkoo LEE, 2021. "South Korean first‐tier suppliers in apparel global value chains: Upgrading and labour implications in the Asian context," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 160(4), pages 553-569, December.
    11. Chu, James & Fafchamps, Marcel, 2022. "Labor conflict within foreign, domestic, and Chinese-owned manufacturing firms in Ethiopia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    12. Oya, Carlos & Schaefer, Florian, 2021. "The politics of labour relations in global production networks: Collective action, industrial parks, and local conflict in the Ethiopian apparel sector," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    13. Oya, Carlos & Schaefer, Florian, 2023. "Do Chinese firms in Africa pay lower wages? A comparative analysis of manufacturing and construction firms in Angola and Ethiopia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    14. Carlo Pietrobelli & Roberta Rabellotti & Ari Van Assche, 2021. "Making sense of global value chain-oriented policies: The trifecta of tasks, linkages, and firms," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 4(3), pages 327-346, September.
    15. Ding Fei, 2024. "China–Africa skills transfer through overseas economic and trade cooperation zones," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 36(1), pages 172-191, January.
    16. Jensen, Federico & Whitfield, Lindsay, 2022. "Leveraging participation in apparel global supply chains through green industrialization strategies: Implications for low-income countries," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    17. Christopher Cramer & Jonathan Di John & John Sender, 2022. "Classification and Roundabout Production in High‐value Agriculture: A Fresh Approach to Industrialization," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 53(3), pages 495-524, May.

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