Shifting regional dynamics of global value chains: Implications for economic and social upgrading in African horticulture
Open accessAbstract
Global value chain and global production network analyses have largely focused on dominance of Northern retailers over suppliers in the global South. The expansion of retailers within the global South sourcing from and supplying consumer end-markets within their own geographic regions is reconfiguring value chain dynamics. This paper draws on GVC and GPN approaches and the concepts of multi-polar governance to analyse changing dynamics of global and regional retail supply networks. Drawing on a case study of supermarket expansion within South and East Africa, it analyses how ‘waves of diffusion’ by global and regional supermarkets provide new opportunities for ‘strategic diversification’ by some horticultural producers and workers. It examines the implications for economic and social upgrading and downgrading, finding mixed outcomes. Strategic diversification provides opportunities for economic and social upgrading by more capable suppliers and skilled workers, but economic downgrading pressures persist and some are excluded from both global and regional value chains.
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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 Barrientos, Knorringa, Evers, Visser, & Opondo, 2016
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References 50 · Cited by 143
Part of this paper’s reference list could not be split into single entries.
Research works printed but not linked: 3
- Barrientos,"S.,"G."Gereffi,"et"al."(2011).""Economic"and"Social"Upgrading"in"Global"Production" Networks"-"Challenges"and"Opportunities.""International"Labour"Review"150(3M4):"319M340."
- Gereffi,"G.,"J."Humphrey,"et"al."(2001).""Globalization,"Value"Chains"and"Development.""IDS"Bulletin" 32(3)."
- Tschirley,"D."(2010)."Opportunities"and"Constraints"to"increased"fresh"produce"trade"in"East"and" Southern"Africa."Paper"prepared"for"4th"Video"Conference"under"AAACPMfunded"series"of" high"value"agriculture"seminars."Mimeo."
- Authors
- Barrientos, S., Knorringa, P., Evers, B., Visser, M., & Opondo, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Manchester (GB)
- International Institute of Social Studies (NL)
- University of Cape Town (ZA)
- University of Nairobi (KE)
- Corresponding author
- Barrientos, Stephanie
- Venue
- Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2015-11-26
- Volume
- 48
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 1266-1283
- ISSN
- 0308-518X (ISSN-L)
- 1472-3409
- OpenAlex
- W2266982184
- Cited by
- 143
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2
- FWCI
- 14.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Locations
- Environment and Planning A Economy and Space (publishedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Department for International Development
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Global trade, sustainability, and social impact
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › General Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agriculture and Agroindustry Studies
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › World Systems and Global Transformations
- Keywords
- global value chains, global production networks, horticulture, supermarket expansion, strategic diversification, economic upgrading, social upgrading, South Africa, East Africa
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