Spurred to Upgrade: A Review of Triggers and Consequences of Industrial Upgrading in the Global Value Chain Literature

Pipkin, Seth; Fuentes, Alberto

doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.05.009

Cited by 193Global trade, sustainability, and social impactGlobal trade and economicsAsian Industrial and Economic Development

Spurred to Upgrade: A Review of Triggers and Consequences of Industrial Upgrading in the Global Value Chain Literature

Pipkin, Seth, Fuentes, Alberto·2017·World Development

DOI 10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.05.009

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Favorable business regulations, IP protection, and significant education spending typically attract technologically and functionally sophisticated activities.
“Among these factors, favorable business regulations, IP protection, and significant education spending typically attract technologically and functionally sophisticated activities (Amendolagine et al., 2019;Ascani et al., 2016;Pipkin & Fuentes, 2017).”
From Global value chains: A review of the multi-disciplinary literature (2020) · cites this paper as Pipkin & Fuentes, 2017
Domestic institutional environment, such as state policies and support from business associations, is more significant than lead firms' influence in shaping network dynamics in developing countries.
“Pipkin & Fuentes (2017) find that domestic institutional environment, such as state policies and support from business associations, is more significant than lead firms' influence in shaping network dynamics in developing countries.”
From Global value chains: A review of the multi-disciplinary literature (2020) · cites this paper as Pipkin & Fuentes, 2017
Specific knowledge acquisition strategies required for upgrading vary depending on the nature of home institutions and labor markets.
“Specific knowledge acquisition strategies required for upgrading vary depending on the nature of home institutions and labor markets (Barrientos, Knorringa, Evers, Visser, & Opondo, 2016;Pipkin & Fuentes, 2017;Werner, 2012).”
From Global value chains: A review of the multi-disciplinary literature (2020) · cites this paper as Pipkin & Fuentes, 2017
Macro-level conditions such as market forces and state policies, rather than lead firm initiatives, are the main force in spurring supplier upgrading.
“As touched upon in the previous section, macro-level conditions such as market forces and state policies, rather than lead firm initiatives, are argued to be the main force in spurring supplier upgrading (Pipkin & Fuentes, 2017).”
From Global value chains: A review of the multi-disciplinary literature (2020) · cites this paper as Pipkin & Fuentes, 2017
Upgrading initiatives can produce a wide range of results, from incremental to significant leaps in market position, depending on a number of factors.
“Upgrading initiatives can produce a wide range of results, from incremental to significant leaps in market position (Pipkin & Fuentes, 2017), depending on a number of factors.”
From Global value chains: A review of the multi-disciplinary literature (2020) · cites this paper as Pipkin & Fuentes, 2017

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Zylberberg, E. (2013) · Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies · doi:10.1108/20440831311321638 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Varieties of Global Integration: Navigating Institutional Legacies and Global Networks in India's Garment Industry
Tewari, M. (2008) · Competition & Change · doi:10.1179/102452907x264520 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Institutions, Upgrading and Development: Evidence from North East Brazilian Export Horticulture
Selwyn, B. (2008) · Competition & Change · doi:10.1179/102452908x357310 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Local Means in Value Chain Ends: Dynamics of Product and Social Upgrading in Apparel Manufacturing in Guatemala and Colombia
Pipkin, S. (2011) · World Development · doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2011.04.016 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Self-citation
Business Networks in Clusters and Industrial Districts: The Governance of the Global Value Chain
Stone, T.-A. (2013) · Papers of the Regional Science Association · doi:10.1111/pirs.12021 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Fair trade governance and diversification: The experience of the National Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi
Smith, A. M. (2013) · Geoforum · doi:10.1016/j.geoforum.2013.04.020 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Cloth Without a Weaver: Power, Emergence and Institutions Across Global Value Chains
Dallas, M. P. (2013) · Economy and Society · doi:10.1080/03085147.2014.881595 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Narrative Versus Meta-Analytic Reviews of Race Differences in Motivation: A Comment on Cooper and Dorr
Graham, S. (1995) · Review of Educational Research · doi:10.2307/1170705 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Regulation in the Process of Building Capabilities
Perez-Aleman, P. (2013) · Politics & Society · doi:10.1177/0032329213507553 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Bringing social institutions into global value chain analysis: the case of salmon farming in Chile
Rainbird, H., & Ramírez, P. (2012) · Work Employment and Society · doi:10.1177/0950017012451674 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
4. Beer multinationals Supporting Africa’s Development?
van Wijk, J., & Kwakkenbos, H. (2012) · Amsterdam University Press eBooks · doi:10.1515/9789048514991-004 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Self-discovery in the dark: the demand side of industrial policy in Latin America
Fuentes, A., & Pipkin, S. (2015) · Review of International Political Economy · doi:10.1080/09692290.2015.1104374 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Self-citation
Governance and upgrading in export grape global production networks in IndiaPreprint
Singh, S. (2013) · RePEc: Research Papers in Economics · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Condiciones histórico-estructurales de los productores de hortalizas sinaloenses en la cadena de valor, 1900-2010
Cabrera, S. V. S. (2012) · región y sociedad · doi:10.22198/rys.2012.54.a154 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
How traceability is restructuring Malawi’s tobacco industryPreprint
Moyer‐Lee, J., & Prowse, M. (2012) · RePEc: Research Papers in Economics · Cited by 5 · see citing works
An Explorative Study on Functional Upgrading and Export Development of Vietnam Wood Furniture ProducersPreprint
Hanh, P. T. S. (2009) · RePEc: Research Papers in Economics · Cited by 4 · see citing works
From globalisation to upgrading value in the productive chain in specialised agglomerations: Is local space still important? Evidence From MexicoPreprint
García, J. V. (2001) · RePEc: Research Papers in Economics · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Compressed Development
Whittaker, D., Zhu, T.-B., Sturgeon, T., Tsai, M., & Okita, T. (2010) · Studies in Comparative International Development · doi:10.1007/s12116-010-9074-8 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Industrial clusters in the Brazilian ceramic tile industry and the new challenges of the competition in the global value chain
Moodysson, J., Coenen, L., & Asheim, B. (2009) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780203875551-21 · Cited by 2 · see citing works

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Sorted by citations

Global value chains: A review of the multi-disciplinary literature
Kano, L., Tsang, E. W. K., & Yeung, H. W.-C. (2020) · Journal of International Business Studies · doi:10.1057/s41267-020-00304-2 · Cited by 767 · see citing works
Economic effects analysis of environmental regulation policy in the process of industrial structure upgrading: Evidence from Chinese provincial panel data
Yu, X., & Wang, P. (2020) · The Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142004 · Cited by 350 · see citing works
The politics of technology bans: Industrial policy competition and green goals for the auto industry
Meckling, J., & Nahm, J. (2018) · Energy Policy · doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2018.11.031 · Cited by 262 · see citing works
Developmental States
Haggard, S. M. (2018) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108552738 · Cited by 249 · see citing works
Green hydrogen value chains in the industrial sector—Geopolitical and market implications
Eicke, L., & Blasio, N. D. (2022) · Energy Research & Social Science · doi:10.1016/j.erss.2022.102847 · Cited by 147 · see citing works
Urban development sustainability, industrial structure adjustment, and land use efficiency in China
Wang, Z., Fu, H., Liu, H., & Liao, C. (2022) · Sustainable Cities and Society · doi:10.1016/j.scs.2022.104338 · Cited by 143 · see citing works
Industrial policy for sustainable human development in the post-Covid19 era
Ferrannini, A., Barbieri, E., Biggeri, M., & Tommaso, M. R. D. (2020) · World Development · doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105215 · Cited by 125 · see citing works
Heterogeneous environmental regulation and industrial structure upgrading: evidence from China
Wang, L., Wang, Z., & Ma, Y. (2021) · Environmental Science and Pollution Research · doi:10.1007/s11356-021-16591-7 · Cited by 100 · see citing works
“(Pipkin and Fuentes 2017; Zhu et al. 2019).”
Global Value Chain Resilience: Understanding the Impact of Managerial Governance Adaptations
Kano, L. L., Narula, R., & Surdu, I. M. (2022) · California Management Review · doi:10.1177/00081256211066635 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
“…date, the main drivers behind supplier upgrading have been related to macro-level forces such as market conditions and institutional environments, 52 with lead firms playing a secondary role in spurring supplier upgrading initiatives (with several notable exceptions, e.g., lead firms in…”
Technical Education in the Middle Income Trap: Building Coalitions for Skill Formation
Doner, R. F., & Schneider, B. R. (2019) · The Journal of Development Studies · doi:10.1080/00220388.2019.1595597 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
“GVCs offer opportunities for firms in developing countries, but these opportunities can become traps if producers get stuck in lower value-added segments of the chain (Pipkin & Fuentes, 2017; Whittaker et al., 2010).”
Background
The Politics of Upgrading in Global Value Chains: The Case of Rwanda’s Coffee Sector
Behuria, P. (2018) · Review of International Political Economy · doi:10.1080/09692290.2019.1625803 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
COVID-19 and the global value chain: Immediate dynamics and long-term restructuring in the garment industry
Mostafiz, M. I., Musteen, M., Saiyed, A. A., & Ahsan, M. (2021) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.10.078 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
The Political Economy of Automotive Industrialization in East Asia
Doner, R. F., Noble, G. W., & Ravenhill, J. (2021) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197520253.001.0001 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Does green growth foster green policies? Value chain upgrading and feedback mechanisms on renewable energy policies
Eicke, L., & Weko, S. (2022) · Energy Policy · doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2022.112948 · Cited by 70 · see citing works
Bridging the low-carbon technology gap? Assessing energy initiatives for the Global South
Weko, S., & Goldthau, A. C. (2022) · Energy Policy · doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2022.113192 · Cited by 70 · see citing works
Supplier resilience under the COVID-19 crisis in apparel global value chain (GVC): The role of GVC governance and supplier’s upgrading
Choksy, U. S., Ayaz, M., Al‐Tabbaa, O., & Parast, M. M. (2022) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.05.068 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Capitalist crisis in the “age of global value chains”
Bair, J., Mahutga, M. C., Werner, M., & Campling, L. (2021) · Environment and Planning A Economy and Space · doi:10.1177/0308518x211006718 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Market segmentation impact on industrial transformation: Evidence for environmental protection in China
Lai, A., Yang, Z., & Cui, L.-B. (2021) · Journal of Cleaner Production · doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126607 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
The effects of national environmental information disclosure program on the upgradation of regional industrial structure: Evidence from 286 prefecture-level cities in China
Liu, S., Liu, C., & Yang, M. (2021) · Structural Change and Economic Dynamics · doi:10.1016/j.strueco.2021.07.006 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Economic growth, industrial structure upgrading and environmental pollution: evidence from China
Xi, B., & Zhai, P. (2022) · Kybernetes · doi:10.1108/k-02-2022-0279 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
How do resource dependence and technological progress affect carbon emissions reduction effect of industrial structure transformation? Empirical research based on the rebound effect in China
You, Z., Xiao, J., Huang, F., & Tang, J. (2022) · Environmental Science and Pollution Research · doi:10.1007/s11356-022-20193-2 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
“Industrial structure upgrading (ISU) refers to the transition from the low-value-added, low-efficiency industries to the high-value-added, high-efficiency, and lowconsumption industries (Pipkin and Fuentes 2017; Zhu et al.”
Background
Does digital inclusive finance promote industrial transformation? New evidence from 115 resource-based cities in China
Li, F., Wu, Y., Liu, J., & Zhong, S. (2022) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0273680 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
“Government regulation policies have a great impact on the transformation of industrial structure [60].”
Background
Job Destruction and Creation: Labor Reallocation Entailed by the Clean Air Action in China
Li, Z., Wang, M., & Wang, Q. (2022) · China Economic Review · doi:10.1016/j.chieco.2023.101945 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Global value chains, import orientation, and the state: South Africa’s pharmaceutical industry
Horner, R. (2021) · Journal of International Business Policy · doi:10.1057/s42214-021-00103-y · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Harmonizing digital trade for sustainable stride: Unveiling the industrial pollution reduction effect of China's cross-border E-commerce comprehensive pilot zones
Li, S., Yuan, J., & Li, T. (2024) · Journal of Environmental Management · doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122834 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Dynamics of firm-level upgrading and the role of learning in networks in emerging markets
Yoruk, D. E. (2018) · Technological Forecasting and Social Change · doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2018.06.042 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
The competitiveness analysis of shallot in Indonesia: A Policy Analysis Matrix
Saptana, S., Gunawan, E., Perwita, A. D., Sukmaya, S. G., Darwis, V., Ariningsih, E., & Ashari, A. (2021) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0256832 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Global Value Chain Participation and Green Innovation: Evidence from Chinese Listed Firms
Meng, S., Yan, H., & Yu, J. (2022) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph19148403 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
“There is a growing consensus that the emergence of GVC represents a remarkable opportunity for promoting the ongoing transformations in developing countries [8,9].”
Background
Factors Affecting the Manufacturing Industry Transformation and Upgrading: A Case Study of Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area
Yang, F., Sun, Y., Zhang, Y., & Wang, T. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph18137157 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
“Seth and Alberto [17] systematically analyzed representative samples of primary products and light manufacturing industries in developing countries.”
Background
Developing innovation capabilities for upgrading in global value chains: evidence from China
Su, J., Ma, H., & Zhang, S. (2020) · International Journal of Emerging Markets · doi:10.1108/ijoem-12-2019-1014 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Business and development: how organization, ownership and networks matter
Puente, I., & Schneider, B. R. (2020) · Review of International Political Economy · doi:10.1080/09692290.2020.1727548 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
“…highlighted the importance of GVCs, led usually by large MNCs, in organizing global manufacturing and constraining firms in lower valuedadded segments of the chains and thus the possibilities for upgrading in the developing countries where they are located (for a review see Pipkin & Fuentes, 2017).”
Background
Interaction between Higher Education Outputs and Industrial Structure Evolution: Evidence from Hubei Province, China
He, D., Zheng, M., Cheng, W., Lau, Y., & Yin, Q. (2019) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su11102923 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
“From the perspective of structural change, industrial structure upgrading refers to the process of constant change in the industrial structure’s centre and the evolution of the primary industry into secondary and tertiary industries successively [39,40].”
Background
Local value chain interventions: a systematic review
Hainzer, K., Best, T., & Brown, P. H. (2019) · Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies · doi:10.1108/jadee-11-2018-0153 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Potential for Upgrading in Financialised Agri-food Chains: The Case of Ghanaian Cocoa
van Huellen, S., & Abubakar, F. M. (2021) · European Journal of Development Research · doi:10.1057/s41287-020-00351-3 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
“The identification of these hindrances has led to a reconsideration of the role of the state in creating upgrading opportunities; e.g. see Mayer and Phillips (2017), Pipkin and Fuentes (2017), Horner and Alford (2019).”
Background
Multichain strategies and economic upgrading in global value chains: Evidence from Kenyan horticulture
Pasquali, G., Krishnan, A., & Alford, M. (2021) · World Development · doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105598 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
“Studies exploring the link between economic upgrading and ﬁrms’ participation in GVCs have largely focused on how lead ﬁrms in the global North govern their interactions with suppliers in the global South (Humphrey & Schmitz, 2002; Blazˇek, 2016; Gerefﬁ & Lee, 2016; Pipkin & Fuentes, 2017).”
Background
The Role of the Government in Green Finance, Foreign Direct Investment, Technological Innovation, and Industrial Structure Upgrading: Evidence from China
Wang, C., Qiao, G., Ahmad, M., & Ahmed, Z. (2023) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su151914069 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Emerging market multinationals’ liability of outsidership
Zhou, N. (2023) · Journal of World Business · doi:10.1016/j.jwb.2023.101505 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Direct and Indirect Effects of Business Environment on BRI Countries’ Global Value Chain Upgrading
He, S., Yao, H., & Ji, Z. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph182312492 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
“Supportive system environment helps increase the sophistication level of export technologies, contributing to status elevation on the global value chain of the country [13].”
Background
Research on the Impact of Digital-Real Integration on Logistics Industrial Transformation and Upgrading under Green Economy
Liu, Z., Zhao, Y., Guo, C., & Xin, Z. (2024) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su16146173 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
From mainstream to niche: How value regimes shift in emerging economy upgrading
Manning, S. D. (2022) · Research Policy · doi:10.1016/j.respol.2022.104532 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
“This also implies that rather than focusing entirely on negative market feedback as a driver of change (Pipkin and Fuentes 2017; Pietrobelli and Rabellotti, 2011), it is important to understand how (and when) market feedback affects the legitimacy of dominant value regimes.”
BackgroundInfluential
Has the Free Trade Zone Construction Promoted the Upgrading of the City’s Industrial Structure?
Zhao, A., Wang, J., & Guan, H. (2022) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su14095482 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
“Relevant studies have covered various aspects, such as international trade, human capital levels, technological capabilities, financial development, and institutional levels (Liu et al., 2021; Pipkin and Fuentes, 2017; Zhou, 2016) [8–10].”
Background
Does value-added tax reform in services accelerate enterprise upgrading? Micro evidence from China
Peng, F., Wang, L., Shi, X., & Wu, H. (2021) · Applied Economics · doi:10.1080/00036846.2021.1975029 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
“Second, the theory of global value chain highlights the distribution and creation of products and services globally and the contribution of foreign trade to product upgrading (Pipkin and Fuentes 2017; Fieler, Eslava, and Xu 2018).”
Background
The implications of governance factors for economic and social upgrading in Ghana’s cocoa value chain
Kissi, E. A., & Herzig, C. (2024) · Agricultural and Food Economics · doi:10.1186/s40100-024-00295-w · Cited by 20 · see citing works
“Our findings show that COCOBOD’s price stabilization scheme and LID that seek to respond to price shocks in global cocoa resulting from higher productivity in producing countries are crucial for smallholder process upgrading (Pipkin and Fuentes 2017; Tröster et al. 2019).”
Background
Environmental regulation and energy efficiency: empirical evidence from the low-carbon city pilot program in China
Niu, H., Vatsa, P., Ma, W., & Li, J. (2023) · Energy Efficiency · doi:10.1007/s12053-023-10140-6 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
“And upgrading the industrial structure involves moving the factors of production to the high-value-added, highefficiency, and low-consumption industries from the low-value-added, low-efficiency, and high-consumption industries (Pipkin and Fuentes, 2017; Zhu et al., 2019).”
Background
Influence of local institutional profile on global value chain participation
Hong, J., Zhou, W. C., & Wang, R. (2020) · Chinese Management Studies · doi:10.1108/cms-09-2019-0319 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Chinese SME development and industrial upgrading
Lin, F., Ansell, J., & Siu, W. (2020) · International Journal of Emerging Markets · doi:10.1108/ijoem-01-2019-0054 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
“In studying the triggers and consequences of industrial upgrading, Pipkin and Fuentes (2017) proposed an ‘induced search’ model for manufacturing firms in developing economies.”
BackgroundInfluential
Analyzing industrial policy regimes within global production networks: the Ethiopian leather industry
Grumiller, J. (2020) · Journal of Economic Geography · doi:10.1093/jeg/lbaa021 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Construction land reduction, rural financial development, and industrial structure optimization
Li, G., Wang, K., & Liu, H. (2021) · Growth and Change · doi:10.1111/grow.12532 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
On GVC and innovation: the moderating role of policy
Eissa, Y., & Zaki, C. R. (2023) · Journal of Industrial and Business Economics · doi:10.1007/s40812-022-00255-9 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
“Likewise, a noteworthy stream in the literature argues that the degree of upgrading in GVC is endogenous to the nature of home institutions (Barrientos et al., 2016; Kano & Tsang, 2020; Pipkin & Fuentes, 2017; Werner, 2012), and the business environment (Dovis & Zaki, 2020).”
Background
The role of subsidiaries in Global Value Chains (GVCs): An institutional voids perspective on LVC upgrading and integration
Soliman, S., Papanastassiou, M., & Saka‐Helmhout, A. (2023) · Journal of International Management · doi:10.1016/j.intman.2022.101003 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
The Challenge of Implementing Voluntary Sustainability Standards: A Dynamic Framework on the Tension between Adherence and Adaptation
Nava, L., & Tampe, M. (2022) · Business Ethics Quarterly · doi:10.1017/beq.2022.1 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
“This gap fosters high pressure for adaptation, calling for local sources of knowledge to develop and diffuse locally adapted practices (Pipkin & Fuentes, 2017).”
Background
Low-emission hydrogen: global value chain opportunities for latecomers and industrial policy challenges
Altenburg, T., & Strohmaier, R. (2025) · Journal of International Business Policy · doi:10.1057/s42214-025-00217-7 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
“For developing countries in particular, Pipkin and Fuentes (2017) state a wide range of variation in benefits from GVC participation.”
Regulating via Conditionality: The Instruments of the New Industrial Policy
Bulfone, F., Ergen, T., & Maggor, E. (2025) · Regulation & Governance · doi:10.1111/rego.70050 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
“Geopolitical tensions in the form of external threats to the political stability of a territorial unit have been found to increase the scope for the implementation of place-based conditionality measures (for an overview see Pipkin and Fuentes 2017), most notably in East Asia (Doner et al. 2005).”
Upgrading against the odds: How peripheral regions can attract global lead firms
Manning, S. D., & Richter, C. (2022) · Journal of International Business Policy · doi:10.1057/s42214-022-00139-8 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
“As a result, many emerging economy locations may suffer from “treadmilling” (Pipkin & Fuentes, 2017), and eventually “decouple” (Horner, 2014; MacKinnon, 2012) or “downgrade” (Blazek, Kveton, Baumgartinger-Seiringer, & Trippl, 2019) in response to global pressures and dependencies.”
Background
Newcomers from the Periphery: The International Expansion of Polish Automotive Companies
Micek, G., Guzik, R., Gwosdz, K., & Domański, B. (2021) · Energies · doi:10.3390/en14092617 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
“, interest rates and exchange rates, national systems of innovation [31], and government policies and regulations [21,32,33].”
Background
The backbone of agrifood value chain resilience: Innovation in the Ecuadorian banana value chain from a historical perspective
Coral, C., & Mithöfer, D. (2022) · World Development Perspectives · doi:10.1016/j.wdp.2022.100476 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Supplier Internationalization Through Upgrading in Global Supply Chain: Evidence from the Garments Industry of Bangladesh
Fouji, M. H., & Hoque, I. (2021) · International Journal of Global Business and Competitiveness · doi:10.1007/s42943-021-00025-9 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
“Nevertheless, upgrading predominantly takes place at the initiative of the supplier firm to sustain business amid vulnerabilities rather than at the insistence of the buyers (Pipkin & Fuentes, 2017)).”
Background
Does Environmental Regulation Affect Circular Economy Performance? Evidence from China
Peng, B., & Shen, X. (2024) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su16114406 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Asian timber value chains- a systematic review and research agenda
Tham, L. T., Pretzsch, J., & Darr, D. (2020) · Forest Policy and Economics · doi:10.1016/j.forpol.2020.102116 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Participating and Upgrading in Global Value Chains: The Case of Small and Medium Enterprises in Vietnam
Nguyen, T. Q., Pham, H., & McClelland, R. (2020) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-49974-7_4 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Impact of environmental effect on industrial structure of resource-based cities in western China
Qiu, Q., & Zhang, R. (2022) · Environmental Science and Pollution Research · doi:10.1007/s11356-022-22643-3 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
“Upgrading industrial structure paves the way for sustainability, including economic, social, and environmental development (Pipkin and Fuentes 2017; Zhu et al. 2019).”
Background
Upgrading through global, regional or national value chains? Firm-level evidence from the East African textiles & apparel sector
Boys, J., & Andreoni, A. (2023) · Geoforum · doi:10.1016/j.geoforum.2023.103809 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Innovation city and low-carbon future: a quasinatural experiment from China
Xiao, D., Fan, J., Wang, W., Wang, J., & Hou, L. (2023) · Environmental Science and Pollution Research · doi:10.1007/s11356-023-29280-4 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
“The quantity of cities’ invention patent authorizations reflects the level of scientific and technological innovation, and industrial optimization is expressed by calculating the index of industrial structure upgrading (Pipkin and Fuentes 2017).”
Background
Navigating the Complexity: The Sustainability Challenges in Global Value Chains
Berthet, E., & Fusacchia, I. (2024) · Annual Review of Resource Economics · doi:10.1146/annurev-resource-101623-102101 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Global value chains and policy practice: The making of linkages in the Ivorian cashew industry
Tessmann, J. (2019) · Competition & Change · doi:10.1177/1024529419877491 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
“However, GVC scholars continue to assume that buyers play a constructive role in the process (Pipkin and Fuentes, 2017).”
Background
Embeddedness of Power Relations in Global Value Chains
Scherrer, C. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-87320-2_5 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
The impact of FDI on industrial structure upgrading and carbon emission under the constraints of environmental regulation
Liu, H., Lei, H., & Zhao, S. (2023) · Environmental Technology · doi:10.1080/09593330.2023.2295830 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
“The coe ﬃ cients of the interaction terms between formal and informal environmental regulations and FDI are both negative, indicating that formal and informal environmental regulations enhance the inhibitory e ﬀ ect of FDI on carbon emission, verifying hypotheses 3 and 4.”
Upgrading products, upgrading work? Interorganizational learning in global food value chains to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals
Matheis, T. V., & Herzig, C. (2019) · GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society · doi:10.14512/gaia.28.2.11 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Global production networks and regional innovation systems: contrasting or complementary policy implications?
Blažek, J., & Steén, M. (2021) · European Planning Studies · doi:10.1080/09654313.2021.2021145 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
“Second, the empirical evidence relating to the economic benefits for companies and to the social benefits for employees is thin or indirect to date (e.g. Pipkin and Fuentes 2017; Shin, Kraemer, and Dedrick 2012; Szalavetz 2017; Tokatli 2013; Blažek, Bělohradský, and Holická 2021).”
Background
The Global Textile and Apparel Value Chain: From Mexico–US–China Linkages to a Global Approach
Marzábal, Ó. R., Pérez, A. L. G., & Romero, H. C. (2022) · Economies · doi:10.3390/economies10100258 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Energy industry advancedization of dynamic evolution and resource-environment decoupling effect: Evidence from China's value chain upgrading
Zhang, H., Li, S.-P., Cui, L., & Li, L. (2023) · Energy · doi:10.1016/j.energy.2023.128552 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Creating innovation capabilities for improving global health: Inventing technology for neglected tropical diseases in Brazil
Perez-Aleman, P., & Ferretti, T. (2022) · Journal of International Business Policy · doi:10.1057/s42214-022-00143-y · Cited by 10 · see citing works
“Studies demonstrate that the government frequently creates pressures for innovation in DEEs, often connected to national priorities and local problem solving (Mazzoleni & Nelson, 2007; Parente et al., 2021; Pipkin & Fuentes, 2017; Stiglitz, Lin, & Patel, 2013).”
Background
China’s technological catch-up and leapfrogging in electric vehicles: A firm-level study of BYD and CATL
Whitfield, L., & Wuttke, T. (2025) · Progress in Economic Geography · doi:10.1016/j.peg.2025.100054 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Public credit institutions, export activities, and global value chain participation: Evidence from China's credit demonstration city construction program
Du, W., Fang, G., Gao, T., & Jiang, W. (2023) · Economic Modelling · doi:10.1016/j.econmod.2023.106409 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Determinants of Using Standards to Upgrade Chinese Industrial Structure From the Context of Sectoral System of Innovation
Tzeng, B. H. L., Wang, M., Hsu, S.-S., & Yuan, B. J. C. (2019) · IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management · doi:10.1109/tem.2019.2939909 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
“However, on the basis of the case studies in the literature, Pipkin and Fuentes [26] find that buyers often play a relatively peripheral role in triggering upgrading when other factors, such as policies, trigger upgrades more frequently.”
BackgroundResultInfluential
Influencing factors and paths of upgrading consumer goods industry in Shanghai: a FsQCA approach
Lei, S., Sun, C., & Ali, M. (2021) · International Journal of Emerging Markets · doi:10.1108/ijoem-04-2021-0603 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Relational contracts and value chain governance: exporter approaches to overcoming transaction costs in Rwanda's coffee sector
Gerard, A., López, M. C., Kerr, J. M., & Bizoza, A. R. (2021) · Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies · doi:10.1108/jadee-07-2021-0176 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Mapping global value chain, production network, and commodity chain literature using scientometrics: an integrative resilient value chains model based on a review of the literature
Klarin, A., Ray, P. K., Ray, S., & Xiao, Q. (2024) · Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing · doi:10.1108/jbim-04-2023-0195 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
How do emerging market suppliers reshape the governance of global value chains? Evidence from China
Ma, H., Su, J., Gao, X. Q., & Wang, N. (2022) · Global Networks · doi:10.1111/glob.12374 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Multinational Corporation Affiliates, Backward Linkages, and Productivity Spillovers in Developing and Emerging Economies : Evidence and Policy Making
Jordaan, J. A., Douw, W., & Qiang, C. Z. (2020) · World Bank, Washington, DC eBooks · doi:10.1596/1813-9450-9364 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
“Pipkin and Fuentes (2017) examine findings from a large number of case studies on GVCs and find not only that technological upgrading does not occur in many cases, but when it does occur it is primarily domestic firms that are responsible for creating this effect.”
How can the “resource curse” be broken? Transition factor flows, the urban life cycle and value chain upgrades in resource-based cities
Lu, S., Lu, S., Zhang, W., & Xiao, F. (2025) · Humanities and Social Sciences Communications · doi:10.1057/s41599-025-04518-3 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“In line with relevant studies, this study quanti ﬁ es the technological innovation level of each region by the number of patent applications (Pipkin and Fuentes 2017).”
The role of complementary interregional linkages for functional upgrading and downgrading of global value chains in EU regions
Hernández-Rodríguez, E., Boschma, R. A., Morrison, A., & Ye, X. (2025) · Industry and Innovation · doi:10.1080/13662716.2025.2480624 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
“…(Blažek 2016; Giuliani, Pietrobelli, and Rabellotti 2005; Humphrey and Schmitz 2002; Iammarino and McCann 2013; Kano, Tsang, and Yeung 2020; Morrison, Pietrobelli, and Rabellotti 2008; Pietrobelli and Rabellotti 2007, 2011; Pipkin and Fuentes 2017; Plank and Staritz 2015; Timmer and Pahl 2021).”
Revisiting the impact of trade on carbon emissions within the context of global value Chains: Empirical evidence from Belt and Road countries
Zhang, Y., Kou, M., & Qiao, M. (2025) · Journal of Cleaner Production · doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.145619 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Agricultural Production Networks and Upgrading from a Global–Local Perspective: A Review
Yang, X., & Liu, W. (2022) · Land · doi:10.3390/land11101864 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Renewable Energy, Resilience, Digitalization, and Industrial Policies in Seaborne Transport
Barbieri, E., & Capoani, L. (2025) · Energies · doi:10.3390/en18051089 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Mobilized Resilience and Development under Sanctions in Iran
Kalb, Z. (2024) · Development and Change · doi:10.1111/dech.12859 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
The Global Factory Revisited
Buckley, P. J., & Enderwick, P. (2025) · Management International Review · doi:10.1007/s11575-025-00585-5 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
“The GVC literature adopts a different perspective arguing that value contestation is widespread as suppliers seek to counter lead firm domination (Pipkin & Fuentes, 2017).”
Study on the factors and paths of optimizing and upgrading the regional industrial structure: A hybrid analysis based on extended NCA and fsQCA
Wei, W., & Yang, S. (2025) · Economic Analysis and Policy · doi:10.1016/j.eap.2025.08.009 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Resource exporter or R&D champion? Leverage points and transition pathways for the Chilean energy sector
Eicke, L., Apergi, M., Goldthau, A. C., Kurniawan, J. H., Schuch, E., & Weko, S. (2023) · Energy Sustainable Development/Energy for sustainable development · doi:10.1016/j.esd.2023.101257 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Strategic Innovation as a Factor of Adaptation of National Economies to the Development of Global Value Chains
Шеломенцев, А. Г., Сергеевна, Г. К., Stepnov, I., Kovalchuk, J. A., Lan, D. H., & Golov, R. S. (2021) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su13179765 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
“Moreover, as practice shows, firms in developing countries themselves initiate modernization processes provoked by ineffective government policies [99].”
Background
Strategic coupling, path creation and diversification: Oil-related development in the ‘Straits Region’ since 1959
McGregor, N., & Yeung, G. K.-Y. (2022) · The Extractive Industries and Society · doi:10.1016/j.exis.2022.101085 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Understanding Technological Competitiveness and Supply Chain Deepening in Plastic Auto Components in Thailand: Possible Lessons for South AfricaPreprint
Monaco, L., Bell, J., & Nyamwena, J. (2019) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.3384027 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Who leads the chain? Deciphering the trajectory of global value network in technology-intensive manufacturing and innovation effects
Yu, Y., Du, D., & Li, Q. (2025) · Technological Forecasting and Social Change · doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124258 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Climbing the Coffee Global Value Chain—Three Decades of Trade and Upgrading
Hanley, A., Liu, W., Semrau, F. O., & Görlich, D. (2025) · Journal of International Development · doi:10.1002/jid.70033 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Resilience and innovation: SME responses in global value chains under uncertainty
Hortoványi, L., & Szepesi, B. (2026) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2026.116120 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Research on the Configuration of Value Chain Transition in Chinese Manufacturing Enterprises
Liao, C., Xiang, Z., Zhou, W., Li, Z., & Li, Y. (2022) · Systems · doi:10.3390/systems10050164 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Automation and value-chain embedment: evidence from Chinese manufacturing firms
Jie, X., Guo, J., & Chen, X. (2024) · Applied Economics · doi:10.1080/00036846.2024.2337811 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
“Enhancements in activities that contribute to higher value addition, such as national market power and policy improvements (Pipkin and Fuentes 2017), knowledge innovation by technology firms (Jean 2014), and effective improvements in products, processes, and skills, are referred to as the upgrading…”
Value chain directionality, upgrading, and industrial policy in the Tanzanian textile and apparel sectors
Boys, J., & Andreoni, A. (2020) · Working Paper Series · doi:10.35188/unu-wider/2020/850-4 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
“…expiry of AGOA in 2025, but the potential ‘vulnerability shock’ of its loss is already reducing incentives for investment and, in line with other studies (e.g., Pipkin and Fuentes 2017), causing GVC firms to explore alternative products and end markets, with upgrading already happening as a result.”
Result
The Supply chain spillovers of Pilot Free Trade Zones on GVC upgrading of Chinese firms
Huang, Y., Li, X., & Liu, C. (2025) · Structural Change and Economic Dynamics · doi:10.1016/j.strueco.2025.08.011 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Stoking the flames of change: AI-driven energy transition in urban China through nonlinear dynamics and spatial spillover effect
Yu, S., Zhang, Y., Jin, L., Xiao, J., & Peng, J. (2026) · Energy Strategy Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.esr.2026.102042 · Cited by 5 · see citing works

Transforming China's collective health care system: A village study
Huang, S. (1990) · Health Policy · doi:10.1016/0168-8510(90)90399-x
Global value chain participation and its impact on industrial upgrading
Tian, K., Dietzenbacher, E., & Jong‐A‐Pin, R. (2021) · World Economy · doi:10.1111/twec.13209 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Does GVC participation help industrial upgrading in developing countries? New evidence from panel data analysis
Wiryawan, B. A., Aginta, H., & Fazaalloh, A. M. (2022) · Journal of International Trade & Economic Development · doi:10.1080/09638199.2022.2149840 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Measuring industrial upgrading: applying factor analysis in a global value chain framework
Tian, K., Dietzenbacher, E., & Jong‐A‐Pin, R. (2019) · Economic Systems Research · doi:10.1080/09535314.2019.1610728 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Global Value Chain UpgradingPreprint
Ylömäki, T. (2016) · RePEc: Research Papers in Economics · Cited by 1 · see citing works

Authors: Pipkin, S., & Fuentes, A.
Affiliations: University of California, Irvine (US)
Georgia Institute of Technology (US)
ORCID: Pipkin, Seth
Fuentes, Alberto
Venue: World Development
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 2017-10
Volume: 98
Pages: 536-554
ISSN: 0305-750X (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.05.009
OpenAlex: W2625888171
Semantic Scholar: 53ed2b1f25c040ce1ef07d47ea595ae418c6233c
Cited by: 193
References: 138
Citations by year: 2026: 27 · 2025: 31 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 36 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 4
FWCI: 13.80
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: World Development (publishedVersion)
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Global trade, sustainability, and social impact
Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › General Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Global trade and economics
Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Asian Industrial and Economic Development
Keywords: industrial upgrading, global value chains, developing countries, light industry, market vulnerability, local institutions, state participation, institutional capacity, treadmilling, leapfrogging, state intervention

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Spurred to Upgrade: A Review of Triggers and Consequences of Industrial Upgrading in the Global Value Chain Literature

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