Are Multinationals and Governments from Emerging Economies Configuring Global Value Chains in New Ways?

Claes Alvstam; Inge Ivarsson; Bent Petersen

doi:10.1108/IJOEM-02-2017-0055

Are Multinationals and Governments from Emerging Economies Configuring Global Value Chains in New Ways?

Claes Alvstam, Inge Ivarsson, Bent Petersen^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of International Economics, Government and Business

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Purpose: The hallmark of today’s global value chains (GVCs), still dominated by multinationals from advanced economies, is a sophisticated international division of labor based on scale economies and prevailing factor endowment differences between countries. However, GVCs led bymultinationals from large emerging economies may be configured on the basis of considerations that supplement factor cost efficiencies, namely, those of societal objectives as formulated by political actors in the home country. In this context, the purpose of this paper is to examine the implications of political and socio-economic factors on GVC configuration of multinational firms.Design/methodology/approach: This paper provides an in-depth case study of a leading Chinese car manufacturer, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (ZGH) and its value-chain configuration, with a special focus on the acquisition of Volvo Car Corporation. Findings: The authors show how ZGH’sconfiguration of its GVC, including that of acquired Volvo Car Corporation, takes place in symbiosis with political actors. The advantages and disadvantages of this symbiosis are highlighted. Research limitations/implications: The study focuses on GVC configuration of one company, ZGH, in one industry, the automotive industry, in one emerging economy. The external validity of the study may therefore be limited. Furthermore, the focus is on the geographical/locational configuration of GVCs and ignores the ownership aspects. Originality/value: The paper provides novel empirical evidence to better understand GVC configuration of multinational firms from emerging economies.

Original language	English
Journal	International Journal of Emerging Markets
Volume	15
Issue number	1
Pages (from-to)	111-130
Number of pages	20
ISSN	1746-8809
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOEM-02-2017-0055
Publication status	Published - 7 Mar 2019

Bibliographical note

Published online: 7. March 2019

Keywords

China
Automotive industry
Emerging economy multinational
Global value-chain configuration
Political embeddedness

Cite this

Alvstam, C., Ivarsson, I., & Petersen, B. (2019). Are Multinationals and Governments from Emerging Economies Configuring Global Value Chains in New Ways? International Journal of Emerging Markets, 15(1), 111-130. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOEM-02-2017-0055

Alvstam, Claes ; Ivarsson, Inge ; Petersen, Bent. / Are Multinationals and Governments from Emerging Economies Configuring Global Value Chains in New Ways?. In: International Journal of Emerging Markets. 2019 ; Vol. 15, No. 1. pp. 111-130.

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title = "Are Multinationals and Governments from Emerging Economies Configuring Global Value Chains in New Ways?",

abstract = "Purpose: The hallmark of today’s global value chains (GVCs), still dominated by multinationals from advanced economies, is a sophisticated international division of labor based on scale economies and prevailing factor endowment differences between countries. However, GVCs led bymultinationals from large emerging economies may be configured on the basis of considerations that supplement factor cost efficiencies, namely, those of societal objectives as formulated by political actors in the home country. In this context, the purpose of this paper is to examine the implications of political and socio-economic factors on GVC configuration of multinational firms.Design/methodology/approach: This paper provides an in-depth case study of a leading Chinese car manufacturer, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (ZGH) and its value-chain configuration, with a special focus on the acquisition of Volvo Car Corporation. Findings: The authors show how ZGH’sconfiguration of its GVC, including that of acquired Volvo Car Corporation, takes place in symbiosis with political actors. The advantages and disadvantages of this symbiosis are highlighted. Research limitations/implications: The study focuses on GVC configuration of one company, ZGH, in one industry, the automotive industry, in one emerging economy. The external validity of the study may therefore be limited. Furthermore, the focus is on the geographical/locational configuration of GVCs and ignores the ownership aspects. Originality/value: The paper provides novel empirical evidence to better understand GVC configuration of multinational firms from emerging economies.",

keywords = "China, Automotive industry, Emerging economy multinational, Global value-chain configuration, Political embeddedness, China, Automotive industry, Emerging economy multinational, Global value-chain configuration, Political embeddedness",

author = "Claes Alvstam and Inge Ivarsson and Bent Petersen",

note = "Published online: 7. March 2019",

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doi = "10.1108/IJOEM-02-2017-0055",

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Alvstam, C, Ivarsson, I & Petersen, B 2019, 'Are Multinationals and Governments from Emerging Economies Configuring Global Value Chains in New Ways?', International Journal of Emerging Markets, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 111-130. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOEM-02-2017-0055

Are Multinationals and Governments from Emerging Economies Configuring Global Value Chains in New Ways? / Alvstam, Claes; Ivarsson, Inge; Petersen, Bent.

In: International Journal of Emerging Markets, Vol. 15, No. 1, 07.03.2019, p. 111-130.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review