Mobile Phones: Who Benefits in Shifting Global Value Chains?

Capturing the Gains, Revised Summit Briefing, No. 6.1, February 2013

6 Pages Posted: 17 May 2013

See all articles by Joonkoo Lee

Joonkoo Lee

Hanyang University

G. Gereffi

Duke University - Department of Sociology - Director, Center on Globalization, Governance & Competitiveness

Dev Nathan

Institute for Human Development

Date Written: May 16, 2013

Abstract

Mobile phones have made a significant impact on developing countries, which have played a key role in the mobile phone global value chain (GVC). The dynamic of the GVC, notably growing concentration in trade and production and the rise of low-end markets, is shaping the impact of economic upgrading on social upgrading. Increased GVC concentration has limited employment growth to just a few countries and firms, and the prevalence of casual labour has led to segmented upgrading among workers. Moreover, the low-end market is vulnerable to poor working conditions. However, shifting end markets are presenting new opportunities for social upgrading in developing countries.

Keywords: mobile phones, global value chain, economic upgrading, social upgrading

Suggested Citation

Lee, Joonkoo and Gereffi, Gary and Nathan, Dev, Mobile Phones: Who Benefits in Shifting Global Value Chains? (May 16, 2013). Capturing the Gains, Revised Summit Briefing, No. 6.1, February 2013, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2265845

Joonkoo Lee

Hanyang University ( email )

School of Business
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Seoul, 04763
Korea, Republic of (South Korea)
+82-2-2220-2584 (Phone)
+82-2-2220-1169 (Fax)

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Gary Gereffi (Contact Author)

Duke University - Department of Sociology - Director, Center on Globalization, Governance & Competitiveness ( email )

Box 90088
Durham, NC 27708-0204
United States
919-660-5880 (Phone)
919-684-2855 (Fax)

Dev Nathan

Institute for Human Development ( email )

NIDM Building, IIPA Campus
Indraprastha Estate
New Delhi, 110002
India

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