CAPTURING
THE
GAINS

economic and social upgrading
in global production networks

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Capturing the Gains: Economic and Social Upgrading in Global Production Networks and Trade

Firms in the North and South increasingly outsource production and services to developing countries through global production networks (GPNs).

Capturing the Gains aims to develop knowledge on employment and wellbeing of workers and small producers in global production networks.

This research brings together an international network of experts from North and South to research and promote strategies for fairer trade and decent work.

The research network is funded by the UK Department for International Development, (DFID), the Sustainable Consumption Institute (SCI), Chronic Poverty Research Centre (CPRC) and the The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

Research updates

Other publications

A comparative value chain analysis of burley tobacco in Malawi - 2003/04 and 2009/10.

Martin Prowse, IOB Working Paper 2011.09
Download the paper (PDF, 613KB).

Skills for upgrading: workforce development and global value chains in developing countries

Gary Gereffi, Karina Fernandez-Stark and Phil Psilos, Center on Globalization, Governance & Competitiveness, Duke University/RTI International (November 2011).

Making chains that (un)make things: waste-value relations and the Bangladeshi rubbish electronics industry

Lepawsky, Josh and Billah, Mostaem, Geografiska Annaler, Series B, Swedish Society for Anthropology and Geography (2011).

From beginnings and endings to boundaries and edges: rethinking circulation and exchange through electronic waste

Lepawsky, Josh and Mather, Charles, Area 43(3) (2011).

Mapping international flows of electronic waste

Lepawsky, Josh and McNabb, Chris, The Canadian Geographer 54(2) (2010).

Project publications

Latest Capturing the Gains working paper available to download

'Vertical specialization and industrial upgrading: a preliminary note' (PDF, 1.1MB) Xiao Jiang and William Milberg (April 2012).

View more Working Papers.

Latest Capturing the Gains Briefing Note available to download

'Tourism global production networks'. (PDF, 4.38MB) Michelle Christian (February 2012).

View more Briefing Notes.

Latest News and Events

International Labour Review special feature

Volume 150(3-4) of International Labour Review has a special feature on 'Decent work in global production networks', presenting Capturing the Gains research (also to be published in French and Spanish).

Blood in the Mobile

New documentary film traces the connection between mobile phones and the civil war in Congo. See also Capturing the Gains Briefing Note No 2: Blood on your mobile phone? Capturing the gains for artisanal miners, poor workers and women (625 KB).

Made in the World

A short film explaining the features of global production and trade, using the example of a Nokia telephone, featuring Hubert Escaith, WTO, Chief Statistician. Watch the YouTube video.


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