Assessing the impact of voluntary sustainability standards in Amazonian enterprises involved in the açaí value chain.

The diversity of sustainable certifications raises questions about the credibility, intentions, and impacts of Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) on Global Value Chains (GVC). Few studies show the impacts of VSS on different sustainable dimensions in sectors such as the non-timber forest product (NTFP) sector. This paper aims to investigate in the value chain of the most important NTFP in the Amazon, açaí, whether VSS contributes to sustainable outcomes in the Governance, Environmental, Economic, and Social dimensions. Using case studies in enterprises of the açaí chain and the use of tools and indicators was possible to generate information that is currently scarce for NTFPs in the Amazon from the VSS perspective. The results show that there is a great distance that the weakest links of the GVC (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises - MSMEs) must walk to adopt VSS and be inserted into the global market. The requirements are based on bureaucratic management activities, which are extraordinarily complex and involve many issues and indicators. The VSS lacks supplements that evaluate and validate the results reported by the companies as sustainable. Finally, the VSS is still far from ensuring an inclusive and fully sustainable chain by itself.

Regional Dynamics in Global Production Sharing: Evidence from "Factory South America".

The global value chain (GVC) literature has recognized the regional linkages of global production sharing while overlooking some regions across the globe. This gap may leave unanswered the question of how South American countries' regional trade linkages have changed amid the acceleration of globalization. This study, thus, investigates the regional linkages of global production sharing of South America by relying on value-added trade measures. Additionally, we develop a pioneering value-added hubness measure to illustrate the degree of relative market dependence between countries. The findings suggest that intra-regional forward linkages in South America have increased over time, but there are signs of a re-orientation towards Asia. China's influence extended beyond Asia, and together with the United States, China became an important hub-nation for South America. Brazil appears as a potential regional hub, mainly through its domestic market and not domestic production. Therefore, the study adds to GVC literature with insights about a missing region, reveals signs of changes in the interconnections between regional blocs, and enriches the research on the hub-and-spoke trade systems.

Why the world economy needs, but will not get, more globalization in the post-COVID-19 decade.

Contractor argues that the coronavirus outbreak only had temporary effects on the global economy, and that post COVID-19 globalization will resume. We posit that the pandemic will have significant long-lasting effects on globalization. Our arguments are grounded in three observations. First, the pandemic has increased inter- and intra-country inequalities and has reversed trends in poverty reduction, which will intensify anti-globalization sentiments in the future. Second, the pandemic has fueled populism, nationalism, and the return of the interventionist state in the economy, which has paved the way for a rise in protectionism. Third, governmental responses to the COVID-19 crisis have undermined the multilateral institutions that have thus far facilitated globalization. These forces have resulted in growing global uncertainty and higher costs in international transactions. We argue that global value chains' reconfiguration will result in a less globalized, and more regionally fragmented world economy. We conclude by suggesting two fertile opportunities for international business scholars: researching commitment failure in international transactions and studying resilience, as illustrative examples of lines of inquiry that can help explain why this latest pandemic will compromise trends in globalization that have dominated the world economy for a long time.

Contractor argumente que l'épidémie de coronavirus n'a eu que des impacts temporaires sur l'économie mondiale et que la globalisation post COVID-19 reprendra. Nous postulons que la pandémie aura des effets durables importants sur la globalisation. Nos arguments reposent sur trois observations. Premièrement, la pandémie a accru les inégalités intra- et inter-pays et a inversé les tendances liées à la réduction de la pauvreté, ce qui intensifiera les sentiments anti-globalisation à l'avenir. Deuxièmement, la pandémie a alimenté le populisme, le nationalisme et le retour de l'État interventionniste dans l'économie, ce qui a ouvert la voie à une montée du protectionnisme. Troisièmement, les réponses gouvernementales à la crise du COVID-19 ont affaibli les institutions multilatérales qui ont jusqu'à présent facilité la globalisation. Ces forces ont entraîné une incertitude globale croissante et des coûts plus élevés dans les transactions internationales. Nous argumentons que la reconfiguration des chaînes de valeur globales se traduira par une économie mondiale moins globalisée, mais plus fragmentée au niveau régional. Nous concluons en suggérant deux opportunités fertiles pour les chercheurs en affaires internationales : mener la recherche sur l'échec de l'engagement dans les transactions internationales et étudier la résilience comme exemples illustratifs des pistes de recherche qui permettraient d'expliquer pourquoi cette pandémie actuelle compromettra les tendances de la globalisation lesquelles ont dominé l'économie mondiale depuis longtemps.

Contractor sostiene que el brote del coronavirus solamente tuvo efectos temporales en la economía global, y que la globalización post COVID-19 se reanudará. Planteamos que la pandemia tendrá importantes efectos duraderos en la globalización. Nuestros argumentos se basan en tres observaciones. Primero, la pandemia ha aumentado las desigualdades entre países y dentro de los países y ha invertido las tendencias de reducción de pobreza, lo cual va a intensificar los sentimientos anti-globalización en el futuro. Segundo, la pandemia ha alimentado el populismo, el nacionalismo, y el retorno al Estado intervencionista en la economía lo cual preparó el camino para un aumento del proteccionismo. Tercero, las respuestas gubernamentales a la crisis del COVID-19 ha debilitado las instituciones multilaterales que han facilitado hasta ahora la globalización. Estas fuerzas han provocado un aumento de la incertidumbre global y un mayor costo en las transacciones internacionales. Sostenemos que la reconfiguración de las cadenas globales de valor tendrá como resultado una economía mundial menos globalizada, y más fragmentada regionalmente. Concluimos sugiriendo dos oportunidades propicias para los académicos de Negocios Internacionales: la investigación del fracaso del compromiso en las transacciones internacionales y el estudio de la resiliencia, como ejemplos ilustrativos de las líneas de investigación que pueden ayudar a explicar por qué esta última pandemia pone en peligro las tendencias de la globalización que han dominado que han dominado la economía mundial durante mucho tiempo.

Contractor argumenta que o surto de coronavírus teve apenas efeitos temporários na economia global e que a globalização pós-COVID-19 será retomada. Postulamos que a pandemia terá efeitos significativos de longa duração sobre a globalização. Nossos argumentos são baseados em três observações. Em primeiro lugar, a pandemia aumentou as desigualdades entre e dentro dos países, e reverteu as tendências de redução da pobreza, o que intensificará sentimentos antiglobalização no futuro. Em segundo lugar, a pandemia alimentou o populismo, o nacionalismo e o retorno do estado intervencionista na economia, o que abriu caminho para um aumento do protecionismo. Em terceiro lugar, respostas governamentais à crise do COVID-19 minaram as instituições multilaterais que até agora facilitaram a globalização. Essas forças resultaram em crescente incerteza global e custos mais altos nas transações internacionais. Argumentamos que a reconfiguração das cadeias globais de valor resultará em uma economia mundial menos globalizada e mais regionalmente fragmentada. Concluímos sugerindo duas oportunidades férteis para acadêmicos de negócios internacionais: pesquisar falhas de comprometimento em transações internacionais e estudar resiliência, como exemplos ilustrativos de linhas de pesquisa que podem ajudar a explicar por que esta última pandemia comprometerá tendências da globalização que dominaram a economia mundial por um muito tempo.

Signaling Southern sustainability: When do actors use private or public regulatory authority to market tropical commodities?

The private regulation of agri-food value chains through sustainability standards has proliferated in recent decades, promising producers to differentiate themselves and gain preferential market access. However, in a number of producing countries, laws exist that mirror and go beyond what private labels demand. These countries have two options for placing their sustainable products in the market: signal their national system's equivalence to private schemes, or utilize the existing regulatory framework as favorable preconditions for widespread certification. In framing this choice as a collective reputation challenge, this study analyzes under which conditions states and parastatal actors opt for either approach, provides evidence of the strategies used, and draws conclusions on their respective success and on-the-ground outcomes. Using an in-depth comparative case study of the coffee sectors of Costa Rica and Colombia, the study finds that the divergence in institutional strategies can be explained by three factors: sector-specific institutional capacities; a country's place in the commodity marketplace, which determines the expected added pay-off of certification; and a country's overall international image.