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Testing the Smile Curve: Functional Specialisation in GVCs and Value Creation

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Abstract

According to the ‘smile curve hypothesis’ the potential for generating value added varies significantly across the various functions along a firm’s value chain. It suggests in particular that the production stage is the least promising value chain function in the entire manufacturing process. This logic implies that countries specialising as ‘factory economies’ are likely to generate comparatively little value added. To shed light on the relationship between functional specialisation along the value chain and value creation, this paper develops measures for functional specialisation derived from project-level data on greenfield FDI for a global sample of countries. These measures keep the industry and the functional dimension of specialisation strictly apart. They are used to test econometrically the negative relationship between value added creation and functional specialisation in production as predicted by the smile curve hypothesis.

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  • Roman Stöllinger, 2019. "Testing the Smile Curve: Functional Specialisation in GVCs and Value Creation," wiiw Working Papers 163, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw.
    • Handle: RePEc:wii:wpaper:163
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    Cited by:

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    2. Mahdi Ghodsi, 2020. "Is Austria’s economy locked-in in the CESEE region? Austria’s competitiveness at the micro-level," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 47(3), pages 669-693, August.
    3. Amat Adarov & Robert Stehrer, 2021. "Implications of foreign direct investment, capital formation and its structure for global value chains," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(11), pages 3246-3299, November.
    4. Robert Stehrer, 2020. "Konvergenz, Produktionsintegration und Spezialisierung in Europa seit 1995," Monetary Policy & the Economy, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue Q1-Q2/20, pages 49-59.
    5. 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.
    6. Zoltán Fülöp, 2023. "Evolvement of Global Value Chain Positions in Central and Eastern European Countries: A New Dimension in Catching Up?," Central European Business Review, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2023(3), pages 47-80.
    7. Antonello Zanfei & Andrea Coveri & Mario Pianta, 2019. "FDI Patterns and Global Value Chains in the Digital Economy," Working Papers 1903, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Department of Economics, Society & Politics - Scientific Committee - L. Stefanini & G. Travaglini, revised 2019.
    8. Claudio Di Berardino & Ilaria Doganieri & Stefano D'Angelo & Gianni Onesti, 2023. "Intersectoral and intercountry linkages as drivers of employment growth in emerging economies: The case of Visegrád countries," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 74(1), pages 163-187, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    functional specialisation; global value chains; smile curve; factory economy; greenfield FDI;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F60 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - General
    • L23 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Organization of Production
    • F20 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - General

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