IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/rdevec/v27y2023i1p62-88.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Once again “smile curve”: Is chain upgrading possible?

Author

Listed:
  • Halit Yanikkaya
  • Abdullah Altun
  • Pınar Tat

Abstract

The geographic fragmentation of the production process inevitably leads to the question of whether or not there is a relationship between the level of value‐added and the position of production stages along with a global production/value chain, known as the “smile curve” as the theoretical literature suggests. This study investigates the relationship between value‐added and production stages across more than 34 sectors over 40 countries for two different periods, 1995–2011 and 2000–2014, by taking into account a variety of different measures of production stage and country‐sector heterogeneity. In the first step, we utilize the decomposition methodology of Wang, Wei, Yu, and Zhu (2017) to track the production stages across country sector. In the second step, we test our hypotheses by employing the fixed effects (FE) estimation technique. The results show that the relationship between value‐added content in output and backward length exhibits a U‐shaped distributional pattern. The significant results for both developed and developing economies indicate the potential of economies to benefit from the functional upgrading along with production stages. Our general conclusion regarding production chains is also valid for stages mainly related to the global value chain (GVC), especially for developed countries. Furthermore, capital intensity and total factor productivity appear to be crucial factors for improvements in process upgrading. Given the robust and positive impacts of chain upgrading in all countries considering both the total production process and GVC part, industries should exploit the opportunities for higher value‐added in the global production system.

Suggested Citation

  • Halit Yanikkaya & Abdullah Altun & Pınar Tat, 2023. "Once again “smile curve”: Is chain upgrading possible?," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(1), pages 62-88, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:rdevec:v:27:y:2023:i:1:p:62-88
    DOI: 10.1111/rode.12927
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/rode.12927
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/rode.12927?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marcel P. Timmer & Erik Dietzenbacher & Bart Los & Robert Stehrer & Gaaitzen J. Vries, 2015. "An Illustrated User Guide to the World Input–Output Database: the Case of Global Automotive Production," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(3), pages 575-605, August.
    2. Timmer, Marcel P. & O'Mahony, Mary & van Ark, Bart, 2007. "Growth and Productivity Accounts from EU KLEMS: An Overview," National Institute Economic Review, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, vol. 200, pages 64-78, April.
    3. Laura Alfaro & Pol Antràs & Davin Chor & Paola Conconi, 2019. "Internalizing Global Value Chains: A Firm-Level Analysis," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 127(2), pages 508-559.
    4. Richard Baldwin & Javier Lopez-Gonzalez, 2015. "Supply-chain Trade: A Portrait of Global Patterns and Several Testable Hypotheses," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(11), pages 1682-1721, November.
    5. Gregory Corcos & Delphine M. Irac & Giordano Mion & Thierry Verdier, 2013. "The Determinants of Intrafirm Trade: Evidence from French Firms," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 95(3), pages 825-838, July.
    6. Bo Meng & Ming Ye & Shang‐Jin Wei, 2020. "Measuring Smile Curves in Global Value Chains," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 82(5), pages 988-1016, October.
    7. Arnaud Costinot & Jonathan Vogel & Su Wang, 2013. "An Elementary Theory of Global Supply Chains," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 80(1), pages 109-144.
    8. Robert C. Feenstra, 1998. "Integration of Trade and Disintegration of Production in the Global Economy," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 12(4), pages 31-50, Fall.
    9. Sakshi AGGARWAL, 2017. "Smile curve and its linkages with global value chains," Journal of Economics Bibliography, KSP Journals, vol. 4(3), pages 278-286, September.
    10. Marcel P. Timmer & Mary O’Mahony & Bart van Ark, 2007. "EU KLEMS Growth and Productivity Accounts: An Overview," International Productivity Monitor, Centre for the Study of Living Standards, vol. 14, pages 71-85, Spring.
    11. Richard Baldwin & Tadashi Ito, 2021. "The smile curve: Evolving sources of value added in manufacturing," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 54(4), pages 1842-1880, November.
    12. Rungi, Armando & Del Prete, Davide, 2018. "The smile curve at the firm level: Where value is added along supply chains," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 38-42.
    13. Baldwin, Richard, 2012. "Global supply chains: Why they emerged, why they matter, and where they are going," CEPR Discussion Papers 9103, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    14. Alan V. Deardorff, 2011. "Fragmentation in simple trade models," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Robert M Stern (ed.), Comparative Advantage, Growth, And The Gains From Trade And Globalization A Festschrift in Honor of Alan V Deardorff, chapter 16, pages 165-181, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    15. Aggarwal, Sakshi, 2017. "Smile Curve and its linkages with Global Value Chains," MPRA Paper 79324, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. Avinash K. Dixit & Gene M. Grossman, 1982. "Trade and Protection with Multistage Production," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 49(4), pages 583-594.
    17. Hummels, David & Ishii, Jun & Yi, Kei-Mu, 2001. "The nature and growth of vertical specialization in world trade," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(1), pages 75-96, June.
    18. Meng, Bo & Ye, Ming, 2022. "Smile curves in global value chains: Foreign- vs. domestic-owned firms; the U.S. vs. China," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 15-29.
    19. Ito, Tadashi & Vézina, Pierre-Louis, 2016. "Production fragmentation, upstreamness, and value added: Evidence from Factory Asia 1990–2005," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 1-9.
    20. Humphrey, John,, 2004. "Upgrading in global value chains," ILO Working Papers 993698523402676, International Labour Organization.
    21. Zhi Wang & Shang-Jin Wei & Xinding Yu & Kunfu Zhu, 2021. "Tracing Value Added in the Presence of Foreign Direct Investment," NBER Working Papers 29335, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    22. John Humphrey & Hubert Schmitz, 2004. "Chain governance and upgrading: taking stock," Chapters, in: Hubert Schmitz (ed.), Local Enterprises in the Global Economy, chapter 13, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    23. Zhi Wang & Shang-Jin Wei & Xinding Yu & Kunfu Zhu, 2017. "Characterizing Global Value Chains: Production Length and Upstreamness," NBER Working Papers 23261, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    24. Richard Baldwin, 2011. "Trade And Industrialisation After Globalisation's 2nd Unbundling: How Building And Joining A Supply Chain Are Different And Why It Matters," NBER Working Papers 17716, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    25. Erik Dietzenbacher & Isidoro Romero, 2007. "Production Chains in an Interregional Framework: Identification by Means of Average Propagation Lengths," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 30(4), pages 362-383, October.
    26. Ram Mudambi, 2008. "Location, control and innovation in knowledge-intensive industries," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 8(5), pages 699-725, September.
    27. Paul Krugman, 1995. "Growing World Trade: Causes and Consequences," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 26(1, 25th A), pages 327-377.
    28. Pol Antràs & Elhanan Helpman, 2006. "Contractual Frictions and Global Sourcing," NBER Working Papers 12747, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    29. Johnson, Robert C. & Noguera, Guillermo, 2012. "Accounting for intermediates: Production sharing and trade in value added," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(2), pages 224-236.
    30. Joonkoo Lee & Gary Gereffi, 2021. "Innovation, upgrading, and governance in cross-sectoral global value chains: the case of smartphones [Institutions and sectoral logics in creative industries: the media cluster in Cologne]," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 30(1), pages 215-231.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Meng, Bo & Ye, Ming, 2022. "Smile curves in global value chains: Foreign- vs. domestic-owned firms; the U.S. vs. China," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 15-29.
    2. Pol Antràs & Davin Chor, 2021. "Global Value Chains," NBER Working Papers 28549, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Bo Meng & Ming Ye & Shang‐Jin Wei, 2020. "Measuring Smile Curves in Global Value Chains," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 82(5), pages 988-1016, October.
    4. Kossi Messanh Agbekponou & Ilaria Fusacchia, 2023. "Global value chains' position and value capture: Firm evidence in agri-food industry," Post-Print hal-04321612, HAL.
    5. Vrh, Nataša, 2015. "Pay-off to Participation in Global Value Chains: How Much are New EU Member States Lagging behind the Rest of EU Countries in Terms of Domestic Value Added in Exports?," MPRA Paper 67805, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Kossi Messanh Agbekponou & Ilaria Fusacchia, 2023. "Global value chains' position and value capture: Firm evidence in agri-food industry," Post-Print hal-04321670, HAL.
    7. ye, ming, 2016. "Trace the goods and value-added route in exports," MPRA Paper 73476, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Armando Rungi & Davide Del Prete, 2017. "The 'Smile Curve': where Value is Added along Supply Chains," Working Papers 05/2017, IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, revised Mar 2017.
    9. Stöllinger, Roman, 2021. "Testing the Smile Curve: Functional Specialisation and Value Creation in GVCs," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 93-116.
    10. Halit Yanikkaya & Abdullah Altun & Pınar Tat, 2022. "Does the Complexity of GVC Participation Matter for Productivity and Output Growth?," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(4), pages 2038-2068, August.
    11. Marilia Marcato & Carolina Baltar & Fernando Sarti, 2019. "International competitiveness in a vertically fragmented production structure: empirical challenges and evidence," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 39(2), pages 876-893.
    12. Federico Riccio & Lorenzo Cresti & Maria Enrica Virgillito, 2022. "The labour share along global value chains. Perspectives and evidence from sectoral interdependence," LEM Papers Series 2022/11, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    13. Pol Antràs & Alonso de Gortari, 2020. "On the Geography of Global Value Chains," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 88(4), pages 1553-1598, July.
    14. Dazhong Cheng & Jian Wang & Zhiguo Xiao, 2022. "Free trade agreements partnership and value chain linkages: Evidence from China," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(8), pages 2532-2559, August.
    15. Dutta, Sourish, 2018. "Framework of Learning and Upgrading in Global Value Chains," EconStor Preprints 237381, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    16. Dutta, Sourish, 2020. "Learning and Upgrading in Global Value Chains: An Analysis of India’s Manufacturing Sector," OSF Preprints 2ser9, Center for Open Science.
    17. Andrea Coveri & Antonello Zanfei, 2023. "The virtues and limits of specialization in global value chains: analysis and policy implications," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 50(1), pages 73-90, March.
    18. Di Filippo, Gabriele, 2018. "What Place does Luxembourg hold in Global Value Chains?," MPRA Paper 86235, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    19. Lorenzo Cresti & Giovanni Dosi & Federico Riccio & Maria Enrica Virgillito, 2023. "Italy and the Trap of GVC Downgrading: Labour Dependence in the European Geography of Production," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 9(3), pages 869-906, November.
    20. Shang-Jin Wei & Yinxi Xie, 2018. "The Wedge of the Century: Understanding a Divergence between CPI and PPI Inflation Measures," NBER Working Papers 24319, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:rdevec:v:27:y:2023:i:1:p:62-88. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1363-6669 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.