How does manufacturing servitization effect global value chain upgrading? Tests based on the dual perspectives of “participation” and “division position”

Abstract

Manufacturing servitization has become an important trend in the development of global manufacturing. Under the policy goal of global value chain upgrading, it is of great significance to discuss how manufacturing servitization affects the participation and position in global value chains (GVCs). Based on the OECD Input-Output Tables (OECD-ICIO) from 2008 to 2018, we calculate the level of manufacturing servitization in major economies. At the same time, based on the TIVA database, two indicators reflecting the upgrading of the global value chain are calculated from the dimensions of “participation” and “division position”. This paper empirically examines the mechanism and effect of manufacturing servitization on the upgrading of GVCs. Our findings reveal the following: (1) Manufacturing servitization has a significant enhancement effect on global value chain upgrading. (2) Manufacturing servitization can affect the upgrading of GVC through “cost reduction effect, technology spillover effect and specialization effect”. (3) Manufacturing servitization in developing countries has a greater promoting effect on the upgrading of GVC(4) For manufacturing industries with different levels of technological development, the promotion effect of manufacturing servitization on high-tech industries is more obvious. This paper has two main implications: On one hand, the government should not only increase support for the service sectors, but also promote the innovative development of the service sectors. On the other hand, it is necessary to improve the level of opening up to the outside world, make full use of the positive “spillover effect” of high-quality service elements, and promote the integration of production-oriented services and manufacturing.