Global Value Chains in the Era of Digital Economy: Trends, Risks and Countermeasures

Zhen Yang, Jin Chen and Jizhen Li
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Zhen Yang: Institute of Industrial Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing 100006, China; Research Center for Technological Innovation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Jin Chen: Research Center for Technological Innovation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Jizhen Li: Research Center for Technological Innovation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

Frontiers of Economics in China-Selected Publications from Chinese Universities, 2022, vol. 17, issue 1, 1-23

Abstract: The new technological revolution has not only created the digital economy, but has also accelerated the digital transformation of global value chains (GVCs). Digital technologies have reshaped the specialization within global value chains by reducing costs, enabling industrial chains and increasing added value in exports. However, GVCs also face salient risks in the digital economy era, as re?ected in their spatial layouts. The enabling e?ect of digital technologies has led to the shortening and reshoring of global value chains. In value chain governance, dominant countries have imposed technological embargoes on ascendant countries, depriving them of key technologies. In the distribution of value, the imbalances in the specialization within GVCs and digital divides have aggravated global economic inequities. Given the new characteristics and risks of GVCs in the era of the digital economy, as well as the "dual circulation" development paradigm, China's industrial chains and ?rms moving up the GVCs need to regard data, the ?fth type of production factor, as a key to the enabling e?ect of the digital economy on industries. These measures will advance the digital transformation of traditional industries and the development of the digital industry, as well as allow industrial chains and innovation chains to work in tandem to facilitate favorable domestic circulation. At the ?rm level, enterprises should further develop endogenous innovation capacity to become leaders in innovation and free themselves from dependence on foreign sources for key technologies.

Keywords: digital economy; digital technology; global value chains (GVCs); enabling; foreign reliance for key technologies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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