Functional upgrading and downgrading in global value chains: Evidence from EU regions using a relatedness/complexity framework
本文利用关联性和经济复杂性指标，评估2000-2010年欧盟区域在全球价值链中功能升级与降级的可能性，发现区域倾向于向与现有专长相关的更复杂功能升级，而缺乏相关专长则更易降级。
This paper adopts a relatedness-complexity framework to assess the likelihood of functional upgrading and downgrading in global value chains in EU regions in the period 2000–2010. We use relatedness and economic complexity measures based on value added content of gross exports and labour structures at the regional level. We show how economic complexity metrics can be used as an alternative for value added data, to measure both functional upgrading and downgrading in global value chains. We find that relatedness between functions (occupation-industry pairs) is a factor impacting both functional upgrading and downgrading. Regions tend to functionally upgrade their global value chains towards more complex functions that are related to functions in which they are specialised. And regions are more likely to functionally exit and downgrade in global value chains when they are not specialised in related functions.