Trade and International Organization of Production in Latin America and the Caribbean
Integration & Trade Journal is now calling for papers examining the links between trade and international organization of production and how Latin America and the Caribbean countries are participating in that process.
During the last decades globalization motivated deep changes in international trade and in the international organization of production. Currently, fragmentation and dispersion of economic activity results in firms from different sectors and countries operating in global production networks. These networks, also called global value chains, integrate all the activities related with the production cycle of goods and services, from its conception until its final distribution to consumers. Multiple firms located in distant geographically locations participate in these networks. At the same time, international trade shows both an increasing role for intra-firm trade and an increase of the role of intermediate goods in it. These changes generate new challenges and opportunities for Latin American and Caribbean countries. The steps and strategies these countries develop in order to insert themselves in the global economy will be crucial factors in explaining their competitiveness and economic growth.
The purpose of this call for papers is to analyze the links between trade and international organization of production in Latin America and the Caribbean and its sub-regions, with a view to publishing the selected papers in the Integration & Trade Journal N°32 to be published in April 2011. In particular, submissions of papers addressing the following questions are especially welcome:
- Overview and Historical Perspective: Why global value chains? Context and conceptual elements that triggered research on global value chains. Main questions and policy issues: How have they evolved in recent years? What is at stake for Latin America and the Caribbean?
- Extent and Measurement: What are the level and patterns of production fragmentation across countries and sectors? How do global production networks look like? How important is intermediate input outsourcing? What and where inputs are outsourced? How important is service outsourcing? What and where services are outsourced?
- Country and Regional Characteristics: What country and regional characteristics are decisive to be part of international production networks? Does the importance of these characteristics differ depending on whether fragmentation takes place along component or service dimensions?
- Firm Behavior: What makes firms to select between import of goods and services from within their boundaries (“insourcing” abroad) and import from other companies ("outsourcing" abroad)? What are the main determinants of firms’ performance as intermediate component and service exporters? What are the factors that determine the extent and scope of the interplay between domestic firms and multinational companies located in their territories? What firm characteristics are associated with stronger ability to be involved and take advantage of these interrelations?
- Economic Integration: Does economic integration favor the emergence of regional and global production networks? Are there specific regulations associated with trade agreements that reinforce or attenuate this effect? Does the presence of multinational firms contribute to shape national trade policies?
- Institutions and Policies: To what extent macroeconomic, infrastructure, education, competition, and regulation policies affect the international organization of production? Do rule of law and contract enforceability matter? Is there any role for formal and informal organizations such as investment promotion agencies and networks of migrants in explaining the degree and nature of countries’ participation in global value chains? Can public policies (i.e., providers’ programs) shape the patterns of business interactions between multinational and domestic companies? Do the design of institutional arrangements and the mix of policy instruments matter for the effectiveness of relevant specific public policies in this area?
Guidelines:
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