Comparing National and Industry-Specific Trajectories of Economic and Social Upgrading as Well as Various Strategic Solutions

2022 ◽  
pp. 505-564
Author(s):  
Petra Dünhaupt ◽  
Hansjörg Herr ◽  
Fabian Mehl ◽  
Christina Teipen
Keyword(s):  
Social Upgrading

The Phantom of Upgrading in Agricultural Supply Chains

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Collective Action ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Small Farmers ◽  
The Social ◽  
Political Economic ◽  
Social Upgrading

This book addresses the controversies surrounding smallholders’ opportunities for economic and social upgrading by joining global agricultural value chains (AVC). While international organizations encourage small farmers to become part of AVC, critics point out its risks. Unlike previous single case studies, researchers from three continents compared the influence of the characteristics of the crop (coffee, mango, rice), the end markets, and the national political economic contexts on the social and economic conditions for smallholders and agricultural workers. Their findings highlight the importance of collective action by smallholders and of a supportive state for economic and social upgrading. With contributions by Angela Dziedzim Akorsu, Do Quynh Chi; Francis Enu Kwesi, Daniel James Hawkins, Jakir Hossain, Khiddir Iddris, Clesio Marcelino de Jesus, Manish Kumar, Michele Lindner, Mubashir Mehdi, Rosa Maria Vieira Medeiros, Antonio Cesar Ortega, Thales Augusto Medeiros Penha, Bruno Perosa, Sérgio Schneider and Santosh Verma.

Challenges of achieving social upgrading in Bangladesh’s apparel industry

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Tarikul Islam ◽  
Christina Stringer
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Apparel Industry ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Lower Tier ◽  
Economic Upgrading ◽  
System Operating ◽  
Social Upgrading

Purpose Despite substantial economic upgrading, Bangladesh’s apparel industry remains confronted by claims of precarious working conditions. This paper aims to understand the challenges of achieving social upgrading and whether benefits of economic upgrading can transfer to workers and their dependents through social upgrading. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 90 participants from six apparel firms in Bangladesh. The interviews were conducted following the Rana Plaza disaster. Findings The results suggest that social upgrading has not occurred to the same extent as economic upgrading. Social upgrading has been compromised in part, by the tiered factory system operating and a lack of governance within the lower tier firms. Research limitations/implications Single country and one industry constitute the main limitations of this research. Future research could include multiple countries and industries to allow for greater generalization of findings. Originality/value The paper provides new insights on how social upgrading might be compromised within the global value chains context and its impact on developing country supplier firms, workers and their families.

Global Value Chains and Industrial Relations in the Global South: Social Upgrading Paths in Different Industries

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 214-236
Author(s):  
Christina Teipen ◽  
Fabian Mehl
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Industrial Relations ◽  
Global Value Chains ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Value Chain Analysis ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Chain Analysis ◽  
Governance Modes ◽  
Social Upgrading

Abstract The article compares social upgrading trends in four global value chains (apparel, automobiles, electronics and it services) and six developing and emerging economies (Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, South Africa and Vietnam). It applies a framework, which combines analyses of industry-specific governance modes with recent theoretical approaches from the field of industrial relations. The empirical results show that prospects for social upgrading within similar segments of a particular value chain considerably depend on the national context. The article thus highlights the importance of integrating the role of national institutions into global value chain analysis in order to better explain variegated upgrading dynamics across different countries and industries.

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