Examines whether the relocation of labour-intensive or unskilled assembly activities to developing countries raises overall skill requirements. Argues that these firms may stay dependent on the lead company in the international production network but could also be integrated into the global economy.

Humphrey J. and Schmitz H. (2002) How does insertion in global value chains affect upgrading in industrial clusters?, Reg. Studies 36, 1017-1027. What is the scope for local upgrading strategies where producers operate in global value chains? The literature on industrial clusters emphasizes the...

In Kenya, exports of fresh vegetables have grown rapidly in the past decade, but the employment impact of this business has been changing as a result of market conditions in the major export destination, the United Kingdom. Continued rapid growth in overall exports, an increase in post-harvest...