Challenges Of Economic And Social Upgrading In The Semi-Peripheral Economies Of The Global Value Chains: The Case Of The Hungarian Garment Manufacturing Industry

The doctoral dissertation enjoys a multi-disciplinary nature. This work is mainly connected to the literature and the theoretical basis of the global value chains (GVC). Besides that, the work incorporates elements from cultural and fashion studies for an extensive understanding of the industry’s governing dynamics and the best cross-fertilization of disciplines possible. While sourcing and trade practices of fashion brands are often discussed within the management and international business literature, and its supply chains within logistics, this stream of literature often lacks a deeper understanding of the fashion industry’s nature and power relations. Besides this, while the emerging stream of fashion studies discipline aims to present a multi-disciplinary approach, the focus of research, connecting this discipline is rather rooted in sociology and cultural studies and often surrounds clothing practices, and personal relationships with garments. Papers of fashion studies often lack an understanding of fashion as a global industry and its position and significance within international economics. The GVC is a political economy framework foregrounding the concept of lead firm power driving value chain dynamics as governors of market requirements and various standards (Morris et al., 2014). The GVC theory examines its asymmetry and focuses on the globally expanding supply chains and how value is created and captured therein. The global apparel value chain can be described as consisting of several networks: raw material, component, production, sourcing, and marketing networks. The GVC theory considers the cause of inequalities and the way how construction is organized, and the internal power asymmetry provides different opportunities for position and profit-making. It focuses on globally expanding supply chains and how value is created and captured therein. The multinational corporations as the lead firms orchestrate a multi-tiered global supply chain (Castañeda-Navarrete et al., 2021).

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Dobos, Emese

• Ipar

Language dc:language

en