Social Upgrading

This paper has critically documented a vast literature addressing the multi-layered outcomes associated with participating in global value chains (GVCs). In particular, this paper reviews and synthesizes the definitions and quantitative measures of one particular dimension of the GVC analysis that is two-fold: the economic and social upgrading. More specifically, we discuss the economic perspective of upgrading, which is usually associated with “moving into higher value-added stages”, and it is commonly assumed to be followed by positive spillovers regarding technology and productivity. This paper emphasizes the important diversity of definitions and measures within the GVC literature, considering it as a reflection, to a certain extent, of the absence of a systematic theoretical apparatus in the GVC literature. The paper concludes with some considerations on the role of policymakers in promoting social upgrading as an important topic in the GVC research agenda.

This article provides the first detailed analysis within economic geography of the GPN of lithium and of the Bolivian strategy of brine industrialization. Considering extractive and manufacturing chains of the lithium industry, it demonstrates how the production networks' organizational structures and practices are shaped by interconnected relations of cooperation and competition. Specifically the article targets two key points in the GPN literature: i) how the multi-scalar competitive and/or cooperative strategies and practices of forward and backward integrations create and sustain the production networks and their evolution; ii) a combined analysis of the GPN approach with a placedbased interpretation of the political economy of the lithium industry focusing on the central role of states as inter-scalar mediators in strategic coupling relations for the insertion of national economic actors and assets to global markets. We then propose a new interpretation of the global reconfiguration of the extractive chain and its spatial forms.

This paper has critically documented a vast literature addressing the multi-layered outcomes associated with participating in global value chains (GVCs). In particular, this paper reviews and synthesizes the definitions and quantitative measures of one particular dimension of the GVC analysis that is two-fold: the economic and social upgrading. More specifically, we discuss the economic perspective of upgrading, which is usually associated with “moving into higher value-added stages”, and it is commonly assumed to be followed by positive spillovers regarding technology and productivity. This paper emphasizes the important diversity of definitions and measures within the GVC literature, considering it as a reflection, to a certain extent, of the absence of a systematic theoretical apparatus in the GVC literature. The paper concludes with some considerations on the role of policymakers in promoting social upgrading as an important topic in the GVC research agenda.

This article provides the first detailed analysis within economic geography of the GPN of lithium and of the Bolivian strategy of brine industrialization. Considering extractive and manufacturing chains of the lithium industry, it demonstrates how the production networks’ organizational structures and practices are shaped by interconnected relations of cooperation and competition. Specifically the article targets two key points in the GPN literature: i) how the multi-scalar competitive and/or cooperative strategies and practices of forward and backward integrations create and sustain the production networks and their evolution; ii) a combined analysis of the GPN approach with a placed-based interpretation of the political economy of the lithium industry focusing on the central role of states as inter-scalar mediators in strategic coupling relations for the insertion of national economic actors and assets to global markets. We then propose a new interpretation of the global reconfigu...

Agriculture sector is central to economic development of South Asia in which more than forty percent people relied for their livelihoods. The paper adopted the parsimonious method proposed by Bernhardt and Milberg [1] to analyze the economic and social upgrading of the agriculture sector taking five countries of South Asia-Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka during the period of 2003-2017. Findings revealed the discrepancy in social and economic upgrading of South Asia within the agriculture sector. However, the region experienced the overall upgrading of the agriculture sector. Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were categorized into economic upgraders while Nepal fell under intermediate case. Likewise, Pakistan and Nepal were categorized into social upgraders and other countries were categorized into intermediate cases. Robustness test showed the exact same categorization for Pakistan only. Both symmetric and asymmetric methods yielded the same categorization of countries, but the method of Kaplinsky and Readman [2] led to a significantly different diagnosis except for Pakistan. From the view point of policy, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India should pursue policy actions to upgrade social aspects of agriculture sector too, while Nepal should mainly be concerned with agricultural production and exports. Pakistan as an upgrader in both social and economical aspects of agricultural sector should equally prioritize both aspects to maintain the balance.

This article provides the first detailed analysis within economic geography of the GPN of lithium and of the Bolivian strategy of brine industrialization. Considering extractive and manufacturing chains of the lithium industry, it demonstrates how the production networks' organizational structures and practices are shaped by interconnected relations of cooperation and competition. Specifically the article targets two key points in the GPN literature: i) how the multi-scalar competitive and/or cooperative strategies and practices of forward and backward integrations create and sustain the production networks and their evolution; ii) a combined analysis of the GPN approach with a placedbased interpretation of the political economy of the lithium industry focusing on the central role of states as inter-scalar mediators in strategic coupling relations for the insertion of national economic actors and assets to global markets. We then propose a new interpretation of the global reconf...

This article illustrates workers' precarity in the textile industry using economic and social upgrading, underscoring the difference in work organisations-buyer and supplier, reorganizing work, and applying socio-demographic features. The study uses exploratory-based framework to understand the root causes of precariousness in 12 suppliers' work organisations in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu. The research shows that intensity of economic upgrading is high across all suppliers' work organisation, which are, large, medium, small, micro, power table, collective self-help group (SHG) for women. The national buyers shields their behavior under the international buyers. Distinction in buyers practices could result in social upgrading, but suppliers' work organisation continue to extract profits and improve profit marginexacerbating workers' precariat conditions. Analysis of the re-organisation of work and socio-demographic features probes into precarisation. The precariat spectrum depicts that suppliers' work organisation is the recipient of precarity, and the agents that transfer precariousness to the workers.

Upgrading is the latest buzzword in global value chain research, especially with regard to producers in countries of the Global South: participation in global food value chains has the potential of raising smallholder incomes and achieving decent work, very much in the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals. However, we argue that the conceptual foundation of upgrading, which is at the heart of many value chain development initiatives, deserves scrutiny and a stronger focus on interorganizational learning among value chain actors to serve its purpose.

Global value chains have the potential of contributing to the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In agriculture, the integration of producers into food value chains has created new employment in farming and processing, although it may also lead to precarious jobs, forced labor, and riskier environments for farmers and workers. The “upgrading” concept put forward by value chain researchers claims to address these concerns as it describes how producers can improve their position within a value chain, and hence, their livelihoods. The paper critically evaluates the conceptual foundation of “upgrading” and its applicability in food value chain governance for the realization of SDGs related to responsible production and decent work. An overlooked element contributing to upgrading and the achievement of these SDGs is learning among value chain actors. The paper argues how the shortcomings in the concept can be addressed in practice through interorganizational learning in multi-stakeholder platforms.