APL (Ajiken Power Lunch)

APL (Ajiken Power Lunch) is a lunchtime workshop open to public, including IDE staffs, visiting research fellows, IDEAS students, outside researchers and graduate students. This workshop provides a platform for presentation of any work in progress where we can discuss in either English or Japanese.

Those who would attend a seminar are asked to announce yourself to receptionists on your arrival at the IDE and to obtain APL Organizers' signature on your admission card after the seminar.

April 23, 2015. (Thursday) 16：00-17：30

Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization C23 Meeting Room 　

'Developing Countries participation in Global Value Chains - implications for trade and trade related policies'

Although global value chains (GVCs) are often considered a defining feature of the current wave of globalization, little is known about: i) what drives GVC participation; ii) what the benefits associated to growing participation are; or iii) how developing countries engage and benefit from GVCs. This paper tackles these questions empirically. The evidence indicates that there are important benefits to be had from wider participation in terms of enhanced productivity, sophistication and diversification of exports. Structural factors, such as geography, size of the market and level of development are found to be key determinants of GVC participation. Trade and investment policy reforms as well as improvements of logistics and customs,intellectual property protection, infrastructure and institutions can however also play an active role in promoting further engagement. A more in depth analysis of GVC participation and policy context in five developing sub-regions in Africa, the Middle East and Asia presented in the paper highlights key differences and similarities and can be a starting point for policy makers in the regions to assess their countries’ GVC engagement and　to consider policy options.

Javier LOPEZ GONZALEZ (Trade Policy Analyst, Development Division, Trade and Agriculture Department, OECD)

Lei LEI

English