IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/zag/wpaper/2308.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

A Journey Toward Global Value Chain Upgrading: Exploring the Transition from Backward to Forward Integration

Author

Listed:
  • Nebojša Stojčić

    (Department of Economics and Business, University of Dubrovnik)

  • Matija Matić

    (Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb)

Abstract

Global value chains (GVCs) are embraced worldwide as a gateway to technological and economic upgrading. Countries integrate into backward, value-importing linkages with the aim of accumulating technological capabilities and transitioning towards creating their own forward, value-exporting chains and capturing a greater share of the value generated within GVCs. Existing knowledge, which is largely fragmented and descriptive, points to a number of uncertainties and complexities that make this process anything but linear. It is open question whether the deepening backward linkages facilitates forward integration in GVCs. Using data from 65 countries over two decades, we show that the impact of backward integration on forward integration in GVCs varies over time and that it is moderated by the level of development of the country, the diversity of the GVC partner network and the innovation conditions in the home market. The research adds a new perspective to the literature on GVC-driven upgrading.

Suggested Citation

  • Nebojša Stojčić & Matija Matić, 2023. "A Journey Toward Global Value Chain Upgrading: Exploring the Transition from Backward to Forward Integration," EFZG Working Papers Series 2308, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb.
    • Handle: RePEc:zag:wpaper:2308
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://web.efzg.hr/repec/pdf/Clanak%2023-08.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2023
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Roman Stöllinger, 2016. "Structural change and global value chains in the EU," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 43(4), pages 801-829, November.
    2. Robert Koopman & Zhi Wang & Shang-Jin Wei, 2014. "Tracing Value-Added and Double Counting in Gross Exports," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 104(2), pages 459-494, February.
    3. Keun Lee & Marina Szapiro & Zhuqing Mao, 2018. "From Global Value Chains (GVC) to Innovation Systems for Local Value Chains and Knowledge Creation," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 30(3), pages 424-441, July.
    4. Andrea Morrison & Carlo Pietrobelli & Roberta Rabellotti, 2008. "Global Value Chains and Technological Capabilities: A Framework to Study Learning and Innovation in Developing Countries," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(1), pages 39-58.
    5. Cosimo Beverelli & Victor Stolzenburg & Robert B. Koopman & Simon Neumueller, 2019. "Domestic value chains as stepping stones to global value chain integration," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(5), pages 1467-1494, May.
    6. Ricardo Hausmann & Jason Hwang & Dani Rodrik, 2007. "What you export matters," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 1-25, March.
    7. Pietrobelli, Carlo & Rabellotti, Roberta, 2011. "Global Value Chains Meet Innovation Systems: Are There Learning Opportunities for Developing Countries?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 39(7), pages 1261-1269, July.
    8. A. Belloni & D. Chen & V. Chernozhukov & C. Hansen, 2012. "Sparse Models and Methods for Optimal Instruments With an Application to Eminent Domain," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 80(6), pages 2369-2429, November.
    9. Gaoju Yang & Yilu Zhang & Xiao Yu, 2020. "Intellectual property rights and the upgrading of the global value chain status," Pacific Economic Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(2), pages 185-204, May.
    10. Gene M. Grossman & Esteban Rossi-Hansberg, 2008. "Trading Tasks: A Simple Theory of Offshoring," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 98(5), pages 1978-1997, December.
    11. Lee, Keun & Malerba, Franco, 2017. "Catch-up cycles and changes in industrial leadership:Windows of opportunity and responses of firms and countries in the evolution of sectoral systems," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(2), pages 338-351.
    12. Mary Amiti & Amit K. Khandelwal, 2013. "Import Competition and Quality Upgrading," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 95(2), pages 476-490, May.
    13. 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.
    14. Bruno Carballa Smichowski & Cédric Durand & Steven Knauss, 2021. "Participation in global value chains and varieties of development patterns," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 45(2), pages 271-294.
    15. Muhammad Nadeem & Yang Jun & Momna Niazi & Yu Tian & Sabahat Subhan, 2021. "Paths of economic development: a global evidence for the mediating role of institutions for participation in global value chains," Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(1), pages 687-708, January.
    16. Ge, Jiali & Fu, Yang & Xie, Rui & Liu, Yu & Mo, Wenyang, 2018. "The effect of GVC embeddedness on productivity improvement: From the perspective of R&D and government subsidy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 22-31.
    17. Keun Lee & Marina Szapiro & Zhuqing Mao, 2018. "Correction to: From Global Value Chains (GVC) to Innovation Systems for Local Value Chains and Knowledge Creation," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 30(3), pages 575-575, July.
    18. Baldwin, Richard & Robert-Nicoud, Frédéric, 2014. "Trade-in-goods and trade-in-tasks: An integrating framework," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(1), pages 51-62.
    19. Andrés Rodríguez-Clare, 2010. "Offshoring in a Ricardian World," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 2(2), pages 227-258, April.
    20. Jostein Hauge, 2020. "Industrial policy in the era of global value chains: Towards a developmentalist framework drawing on the industrialisation experiences of South Korea and Taiwan," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(8), pages 2070-2092, August.
    21. Christian Henn & Chris Papageorgiou & Jose Manuel Romero & Nikola Spatafora, 2020. "Export Quality in Advanced and Developing Economies: Evidence from a New Data Set," IMF Economic Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Monetary Fund, vol. 68(2), pages 421-451, June.
    22. Magdolna Sass & Andrea Szalavetz, 2014. "R&D-based integration and upgrading in Hungary," Acta Oeconomica, Akadémiai Kiadó, Hungary, vol. 64(supplemen), pages 153-180, November.
    23. Victor Stolzenburg & Daria Taglioni & Deborah Winkler, 2019. "Economic upgrading through global value chain participation: which policies increase the value-added gains?," Chapters, in: Stefano Ponte & Gary Gereffi & Gale Raj-Reichert (ed.), Handbook on Global Value Chains, chapter 30, pages 483-505, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    24. Beata S. Javorcik, 2015. "Does FDI Bring Good Jobs to Host Countries?," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 30(1), pages 74-94.
    25. Fangrui Wang & Xiaolan Fu & Jin Chen, 2014. "Differential Forms Of Technological Change And Catch-Up: Evidence From China," International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management (IJITM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 11(02), pages 1-25.
    26. Alexandre Belloni & Victor Chernozhukov & Ying Wei, 2016. "Post-Selection Inference for Generalized Linear Models With Many Controls," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(4), pages 606-619, October.
    27. Daria Taglioni & Deborah Winkler, 2016. "Making Global Value Chains Work for Development," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 24426, December.
    28. Kordalska, Aleksandra & Olczyk, Magdalena, 2021. "Linkages between services and manufacturing as a new channel for GVC development: Evidence from CEE countries," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 125-137.
    29. Gideon Ndubuisi & Solomon Owusu, 2021. "How important is GVC participation to export upgrading?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(10), pages 2887-2908, October.
    30. Bengt-ake Lundvall & Bjorn Johnson, 1994. "The Learning Economy," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 1(2), pages 23-42.
    31. Pleticha, Petr, 2021. "Who Benefits from Global Value Chain Participation? Does Functional Specialization Matter?," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 291-299.
    32. Ge, Ying & Dollar, David & Yu, Xinding, 2020. "Institutions and participation in global value chains: Evidence from belt and road initiative," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    33. Havranek, Tomas & Irsova, Zuzana, 2011. "Estimating vertical spillovers from FDI: Why results vary and what the true effect is," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(2), pages 234-244.
    34. Zuohong Pan, 2020. "Employment impacts of the US global value chain participation," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(6), pages 699-720, November.
    35. Nebojša Stojčić, 2021. "Collaborative innovation in emerging innovation systems: Evidence from Central and Eastern Europe," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 46(2), pages 531-562, April.
    36. Mike Hobday, 2003. "Innovation in Asian Industrialization: A Gerschenkronian Perspective," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(3), pages 293-314.
    37. Gill,Indermit S. & Kharas,Homi, 2015. "The middle-income trap turns ten," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7403, The World Bank.
    38. Hobday, Mike, 1995. "East Asian latecomer firms: Learning the technology of electronics," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 23(7), pages 1171-1193, July.
    39. Kergroach, Sandrine, 2019. "National innovation policies for technology upgrading through GVCs: A cross-country comparison," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 258-272.
    40. Hu, Dianxi & Jiao, Jianling & Tang, Yunshu & Xu, Yuwen & Zha, Jianrui, 2022. "How global value chain participation affects green technology innovation processes: A moderated mediation model," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    41. Bhushan Praveen Jangam & Badri Narayan Rath, 2021. "Does global value chain participation enhance domestic value‐added in exports? Evidence from emerging market economies," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(2), pages 1681-1694, April.
    42. Peter Gal & William Witheridge, 2019. "Productivity and innovation at the industry level: What role for integration in global value chains?," OECD Productivity Working Papers 19, OECD Publishing.
    43. Stefan Pahl & Marcel P. Timmer, 2020. "Do Global Value Chains Enhance Economic Upgrading? A Long View," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(9), pages 1683-1705, July.
    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. Gideon Ndubuisi & Solomon Owusu, 2021. "How important is GVC participation to export upgrading?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(10), pages 2887-2908, October.
    2. Lorenzo Cresti & Maria Enrica Virgillito, 2023. "Weak sectors and weak ties? Labour dependence and asymmetric positioning in GVCs," LEM Papers Series 2023/10, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    3. Liu, Jiali & Yu, Jiang & Chen, Feng & Zhang, Yaokun & Li, Bo, 2022. "How latecomers strategically respond to global-local resources and leverage local ecosystems: Evidence from China's integrated circuit design firms," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    4. Owusu, Solomon, 2021. "Powering structural transformation and productivity gains in Africa: The role of global value chains and resource endowments," MERIT Working Papers 2021-022, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    5. Stefan Pahl & Marcel P. Timmer, 2020. "Do Global Value Chains Enhance Economic Upgrading? A Long View," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(9), pages 1683-1705, July.
    6. F. Colozza & R. Boschma & A. Morrison & C. Pietrobelli, 2021. "The importance of global value chains and regional capabilities for the economic complexity of EU-regions," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2139, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Dec 2021.
    7. Can Li & Qi He & Han Ji & Shengguo Yu & Jiao Wang, 2023. "Reexamining the Impact of Global Value Chain Participation on Regional Economic Growth: New Evidence Based on a Nonlinear Model and Spatial Spillover Effects with Panel Data from Chinese Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-31, September.
    8. Eduardo Hernandez-Rodriguez & Ron Boschma & Andrea Morrison & Xianjia Ye, 2023. "Functional upgrading and downgrading in global value chains: Evidence from EU regions using a relatedness/complexity framework," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2316, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Jul 2023.
    9. Rasmus Lema & Roberta Rabellotti & Padmashree Gehl Sampath, 2018. "Innovation Trajectories in Developing Countries: Co-evolution of Global Value Chains and Innovation Systems," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 30(3), pages 345-363, July.
    10. 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.
    11. Shuang Meng & Huan Yan & Jiajie Yu, 2022. "Global Value Chain Participation and Green Innovation: Evidence from Chinese Listed Firms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-17, July.
    12. Jun Jin & Zhengyi Zhang & Liying Wang, 2019. "From the Host to the Home Country, the International Upgradation of EMNEs in Sustainability Industries—The Case of a Chinese PV Company," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-19, September.
    13. Ketan Reddy & Radeef Chundakkadan & Subash Sasidharan, 2021. "Firm innovation and global value chain participation," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 1995-2015, December.
    14. Maria Savona, 2021. "Revisiting High Development Theory to Explain Upgrading Prospects in Business Services Global Value Chains," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 33(2), pages 206-226, April.
    15. Nenci, Silvia & Fusacchia, Ilaria & Giunta, Anna & Montalbano, Pierluigi & Pietrobelli, Carlo, 2022. "Mapping global value chain participation and positioning in agriculture and food: stylised facts, empirical evidence and critical issues," Bio-based and Applied Economics Journal, Italian Association of Agricultural and Applied Economics (AIEAA), vol. 11(2), July.
    16. Padmashree Gehl Sampath & Bertha Vallejo, 2018. "Trade, Global Value Chains and Upgrading: What, When and How?," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 30(3), pages 481-504, July.
    17. Chiara Criscuolo & Jonathan Timmis, 2017. "The Relationship Between Global Value Chains and Productivity," International Productivity Monitor, Centre for the Study of Living Standards, vol. 32, pages 61-83, Spring.
    18. Ping Hua, 2022. "How did China Raise its Manufacturing Domestic Value added in Exports through GVC Moving up?," Post-Print hal-03767822, HAL.
    19. Zicheng Ma & Liang Wang & Xin Zheng & Jianqi Zhang, 2022. "National Innovation Systems and Global Value Chain Participation: The Role of Entrepreneurship," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(2), pages 897-920, April.
    20. Jung-In Yeon & Jeong-Dong Lee & Chulwoo Baek, 2021. "A tale of two technological capabilities: economic growth revisited from a technological capability transition perspective," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 46(3), pages 574-605, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    global value chain; upgrading; backward and forward integration;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F6 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization
    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights

    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:zag:wpaper:2308. 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: WPS (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/fefzghr.html .

    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.