Global Value Chains and Technological Capabilities: A Framework to Study Industrial Innovation in Developing Countries

Andrea Morrison, Carlo Pietrobelli and Roberta Rabellotti

No 192, KITeS Working Papers from KITeS, Centre for Knowledge, Internationalization and Technology Studies, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy

Abstract: This paper presents a critical review of the Global Value Chain literature in light of the “Technological Capabilities” approach to innovation in LDCs. Participation in GVC is beneficial for firms in LDCs, which are bound to source technology internationally. However, the issues of learning and technological efforts at the firm-level remain largely uncovered by the GVC literature. We propose a shift in the empirical and theoretical agenda, arguing that research should focus on the endogenous process of technological capability development, on the specific firm-level efforts and on the mechanisms allowing knowledge to flow within and between different global value chains.

Keywords: global value chains; technological capabilities; learning; innovation; LDCs. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F23 L22 O31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: pages 27
Date: 2006-12, Revised 2006-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cse, nep-ino and nep-knm
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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