1. Does Participation in Global Value Chains Increase Productivity? An Analysis of Trade in Value Added Data
- Author:
- Shujiro Urata and Youngmin Baek
- Publication Date:
- 11-2019
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)
- Abstract:
- This paper examines the impact of global value chain (GVC) participation on productivity by considering both backward and forward participation. Conducting a panel estimation covering 47 countries and 13 manufacturing sectors for 1995–2011, we found that both backward and forward GVC participation contributes to an increase in the productivity of the countries involved in GVCs. In particular, benefits in the form of improved productivity are larger in cases where developing countries procure intermediate goods from developed countries, or backward participation. Our analysis indicates the importance of GVC participation for improving productivity. We argue that, in order for a country to increase GVC participation, an open, free, and transparent trade and foreign direct investment environment (which is provided by regional trade agreements); well-developed soft infrastructure (e.g. educational and legal systems); hard infrastructure (e.g. transportation and communication systems); and the availability of capable human resources are important.
- Topic:
- International Trade and Finance, Foreign Direct Investment, and Global Value Chains
- Political Geography:
- Global Focus