Global value chains in Africa

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Book

Title:	Global value chains in Africa
Authors:	Foster-McGregor, N. Kaulich, F. Stehrer, R.
Year:	2015
Issue:	2015-24
Pages:	90
Language:	English
Series:	UNU-MERIT working paper series (ISSN 1871-9872)
City of publisher:	Maastricht
Publisher:	Maastricht Economic and social Research institute on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT) & Maastricht Graduate School of Governance (MGSoG)
Geographic term:	Africa
Subjects:	international trade international economic relations global economy economic models
External link:	https://cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl/en/publications/global-value-chains-in-africa
Abstract:	This paper provides evidence on the extent of Global Value Chain GVC participation by Africa as a region and for individual African countries. The authors find that Africa as a whole is heavily involved in GVCs, being more engaged in GVCs than many developing country regions as well as developed countries such as the USA. This overall finding hides the fact that much of Africas participation in GVCs is in upstream production, with African firms providing primary inputs to firms in countries further down the value chain. The possibility of upgrading within GVCs in Africa is likely to be limited therefore, something which the current analysis suggests. Despite this, the authors observe a great deal of heterogeneity in terms of GVC participation and upgrading across African countries, with a number of African countries participating in GVCs to a relatively large extent. [Book abstract]