This diploma thesis is focused on changes in the content of ?-glutamyl- S-vinylcysteine (GVC), the anti-nutritional factor present in narbon beans (Vicia narbonensis). The samples were collected at different stages of growth and separated into individual parts. There were prepared 32 extracts after freeze-drying and homogenisation in which it was determined the quantity of GVC by HPLC. The levels of GVC at different developmental stages were influenced by climatic conditions during growth, mainly by temperature and precipitation. The results obtained were compared with data published previously in the literature. The highest content of GVC was found in the seeds of narbon beans, especially at early stages of growth. Surprisingly, no GVC was detected in other parts of narbon beans (stems, leaves, beans, and roots).

The Swedish game industry has seen tremendous growth and a global impact in the market. Despite the successes there is a lack of research on the matter. By exploring the global value chains of game companies in Skövde (a game industry hub in Sweden) the thesis intends to generate understanding of and map out value chain paths along with identifying critical factors for future growth and maintenance of the leading position in the market. A comprehensive overview of the industry cluster case of Skövde has been achieved through the use of semi-structured interviews with six local game companies. As a result of the study confirmation and extension of the thesis grand theory, the GVC literature, was achieved. A number of critical factors for practical utilization were identified, specifically the relationship with the publisher, the developer’s passion for the project & creative freedom together with contacts in the industry.  A number of scientific contributions have been made through our research. By exploring the GVC in a previously under-researched context we have made a contribution by confirming previous theory as well as laying a base for future research and an extension of the literature in the institutional context-section of the GVC literature. The critical factors findings have the potential of a direct impact on the practical management of the business side of the industry. Finally, as a result of the discovery of close connections with the Transaction Cost Analysis (TCA), Resource Dependency Theory (RDT) and Relational Exchange Theory (RET) theories we have laid the groundwork for future research in these areas as well. / Den svenska spelindustrin har sett en stor tillväxt och har en påverkan på den globala marknaden. Trots framgångarna råder en brist på forskning inom området. Genom att utforska den globala värdekedjan hos spelföretag i Skövde (ett nav för spelindustrin i Sverige) ämnar studien att generera en förståelse av och att kartlägga den globala värdekedjan samt identifiera kritiska faktorer för framtida tillväxt och upprätthållandet av den ledande positionen i marknaden. En omfattande översikt av industri-klustret i Skövde har uppnåtts genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med sex lokala spelföretag. Som resultat av studien har uppsatsens bas-teori, GVC-litteraturen, bekräftats och utvidgats. Ett antal kritiska faktorer för praktisk användning identifierades, specifikt relationen med publiceraren, utvecklarnas passion för projektet & kreativ frihet tillsammans med kontakter inom industrin. Ett antal teoretiska bidrag har frambringats genom vår forskning. Genom att undersöka GVC i en tidigare underforskad kontext har vi bidragit genom att bekräfta tidigare teori samt lagt grunden för framtida forskning och utvidgning av det institutionella kontextavsnittet inom GVC-litteraturen. Upptäckten av de kritiska faktorerna har potential för en direkt inverkan på den praktiska förvaltningen av industrins affärssida. Slutligen, som ett resultat av studien upptäckte vi nära anknytningar med teorier som Transaction Cost Analysis (TCA), Resource Dependency Theory (RDT) and Relational Exchange Theory (RET) vilket innebär att vi lagt en grund för framtida forskning även inom dessa områden.

Объем магистерской диссертации 125 страниц основного текста, для иллюстрации использованы 16 таблиц, 10 рисунков и приложения. Библиографический список состоит из 84 источников. Актуальность темы магистерской диссертации связана с тем, что, во-первых, глобальные цепочки стоимости определили особенности развития мировой экономики с начала 2000 годов и во-вторых существует дефицит исследований на выбранную тему. Цель данного исследования заключается в выявлении факторов и оценке эффектов от участия стран в глобальных цепочках стоимости. В соответствии с выбранной целью в работе были поставлены следующие задачи: выявить факторы, влияющие на интеграцию стран в глобальные цепочки стоимости; систематизировать эффекты от участия стран в глобальных цепочках стоимости; провести обзор эмпирических исследований по детерминантам ГЦС; предложить методический подход к оценке эффектов от интеграции стран в глобальные цепочки стоимости; провести эконометрическое моделирование стран в глобальных цепочках стоимости; разработать рекомендации для государственной политики в контексте интеграции стран в глобальные цепочки стоимости. К научной новизне можно отнести проведение комплексного исследования и детального анализа глобальных цепочек стоимости и выявление ключевых факторов и эффектов от участия стран в глобальных цепочках стоимости с помощью эконометрических методов работы с панельными данными. Практическая значимость магистерской работы состоит в возможности использования обозначенных в работе рекомендаций и других результатов для стимулирования существенного роста уровня вовлеченности стран в участие в глобальных цепочках стоимости и, соответственно, принося странам экономические выгоды. / The volume of the master's thesis is 125 pages of the main text, 16 tables, 10 figures and the appendix are used to illustrate. The bibliographic list consists of 74 sources. The relevance of the research of the topic master's thesis is due to the fact that, firstly, global value chains have determined the features of the development of the world economy since the beginning of 2000, and secondly, there is a shortage of research on the chosen topic. The purpose of the research: to identify factors and assess the effects of countries participation in global value chains. In accordance with the chosen of the purpose of the research is the following tasks in the work: to identify factors affecting the integration of countries into global value chains; to systematize the effects of countries participation in global value chains; to review empirical studies on the determinants of GVC; to propose a methodological approach to assessing the effects of countries integration into global value chains; to conduct econometric modeling of countries in global value chains; develop recommendations for public policy in the context of the integration of countries into global value chains. The scientific novelty can be attributed to conducting a comprehensive study and detailed analysis of global value chains and identifying key factors and effects of countries participation in global value chains using econometric methods of working with panel data. The practical significance of the research is determined to the possibility of using the recommendations outlined in the work and other results to stimulate a significant increase in the level of involvement of countries in participating in global value chains and, accordingly, bringing economic benefits to countries.

In the context of globalisation and liberalising economies, an increasing number of local firms based in developing countries and emerging markets are encouraged to internationalise their business activities and thus participate in foreign trade. Their sustained success is founded on two key factors; their ability to access potential foreign markets, and their ability to upgrade their capabilities and thus improve their positioning in global markets. This thesis investigates the internationalisation process and upgrading prospects of Indian Garment Manufacturers (IGMs). It begins by examining how IGMs gain access to foreign markets and discusses the factors that help or hinder their progress. The thesis subsequently explores the ways in which IGMs upgrade their activities to higher value-added activities and investigates the contributory factors that drive and shape their upgrading prospects. Existing studies employ the concept of ‘Diaspora networks’ or ethnic ties to explain how local firms from emerging markets are able to internationalise their business activities. These studies highlight the integral role played by Diaspora networks in enabling this internationalisation. Diaspora networks help connect local firms with foreign, world class buyers (or ‘lead firms’) using the Diaspora’s own pre-established ties and links with such lead firms. Similarly, Global Value Chain (GVC) proponents assume the upgrading prospects of these local firms can be enhanced as a result of linking up with ‘lead firms’ because of the benefits that can be derived from knowledge and technology transfer imparted through working with world class buyers. The extant literature however is vague on the internationalisation processes of IGMs. Furthermore, it does not adequately address the extent to which IGMs utilise Indian Diaspora networks to access foreign markets and to internationalise their business activities. It is also unclear what mechanisms are employed to impart knowledge from lead buyers to suppliers and to what extent the knowledge and technology transferred plays a key role in progressing IGMs upgrading activities; especially in the higher value added functions of design. This thesis contributes by addressing and shedding further light on these unresolved issues. It examines the issues using a combined approach, where theories and concepts from international business (IB) and GVC are employed in analysing the subject matter and thus allows for a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the issues under investigation. To explore the above themes a case study based approach was employed. Interviews were conducted with key decision makers/owners of 23 case companies. Further interviews with key industry, academic and government heads were conducted as a means of triangulation. Interviews were, in turn, supplemented with documentary evidence and published material from company websites, industry and academic journals, and newspaper articles, so as to arrive at a more comprehensive understanding of the issues in question. Findings from this study suggest that IGMs rarely use Diaspora networks to access foreign markets. Instead, the majority of IGMs have achieved internationalisation as a result of well-developed networks of formal intermediaries based in India who have facilitated connections with prospective buyers. Furthermore, their manner of internationalisation reveals IGMs tend to access foreign markets initially at a very young age and at a rapid pace. Thus process-based theories of internationalisation seem inappropriate in explaining this rapid pace of internationalisation; insights from the literature on Born Globals and International New Ventures (INVs) seem, at first, to offer better explanations. However, employing concepts such as the ‘mature’ born global and the ‘failed’ born global leads one to re-examine and reconsider these initial findings. Re-examined findings indicate that in fact maturing IGMs are realigning their internationalisation trajectories to be better positioned to take advantage of favourable domestic market conditions. These findings are better explained using a more inclusive definition of internationalisation; particularly, concepts of de-internationalisation and extra-regional expansion from the field of IB. Additional findings, related to the issue of upgrading, indicate that contextual factors, usually related to the domestic economy and the firm’s internal circumstances, play a significant role in affecting the upgrading prospects of IGMs. These findings are contrary to GVC-based explanations of what drives and shapes IGMs’ upgrading activities, which place excessive emphasis on the role of the ‘lead firm’. In particular, GVC-based assumptions regarding the knowledge and technology transfer benefits available to local manufacturers by linking with larger world class buyers or lead firms seem of limited applicability to IGMs; here, firm-specific factors seem more important in determining firm choices concerning upgrading trajectories.

Increased international trade has sparked a debate on the need to coordinate dispersedactivities in Global Value Chains, linking production to end consumers. Implementationof standards has in the literature on Global Value Chains been suggested as a wayto coordinate a value chain. We have investigated the value chain of shrimp andprawns production in Bangladesh, in order to analyze if standards placed by the EUhave proven a successful way to coordinate the value chain. The implementation ofstandards has been studied to capture the coordination in the value chain. A singlecase study was conducted with interviews from a sample of actors in direct or closeconnection to the production of shrimp and prawns in Bangladesh. The focus of thestudy has been on the perspectives of the individuals and if and how standards areimplemented successfully in a social context. The attempt has been to bridgeunderstandings of implementation of standards together with knowledge of the complexnature of Global Value Chains. The results show that there are multiple challengesto successful implementation of standards. Hurdles can especially be linked tothe ability to follow standards where lack of human- and financial resources havebeen found. In addition, the will to follow standards can have an impact when traditionalmethods stand in the way and immediate financial incentives are not in place.

The relevance is justified by the need to eliminate the following contradiction: - on the one hand, the world economic environment (WEE) has changed, the main characteristic of which has become the GVCs, and the current stage of world development the new generation of GVCs is already relevant; - on the other hand, the strategy for the development of the national economy in this new WEE poorly reflects the new realities of the WEE and allows us to supplement the concept of industrial regions as "territory for the placement of exporters 'enterprises" to the concept of "placement of links of GCS". The goal is to develop a theoretical approach and offer recommendations on the priorities of foreign economic development of the industrial regions of Russia on the basis of their integration into the industry GVCs. The object of research is the leading industrial regions of Russia (or industrial type) as part of the national economy and part of the GVCs. The subject of the study is the socio-economic relations arising from the interaction of structural elements of the Industrial district with the links of the GVCs. The scientific novelty consists in the promotion of a new scientific idea of integration of IR in the GCS and its theoretical justification, the meaning of which is the transition from the "forward-participation" model to the "backward-participation", as well as the proposal of indicators that allow you to determine the positioning of the intra-state region of industrial type through the prism of a specific industry. This complements the" in-country component " of scientific research in the field of GVCs-concepts and in relation to ID allows to supplement the concept of ID as a "territory for the placement of exporting enterprises" to the concept of "placement of GVCs links". / Актуальность обосновывается необходимостью устранения следующего противоречия: - с одной стороны, изменилась мирохозяйственная среда, основной характеристикой, которой стали ГЦДС, причем актуальной является уже ГЦДС нового поколения; - с другой стороны, стратегия развития национальной экономики в этой новой МХС в определенном смысле (а ИР является частью национальной экономической структуры) медленно и слабо отражает новые реалии МХС, отношении ИР позволяет дополнить концепцию ИР как «территория для размещения предприятий экспортеров» к концепции «размещения звеньев ГЦДС». Цель – разработать теоретический подход и рекомендации по приоритетам внешнеэкономического развития индустриальных регионов России на основе их интеграции в отраслевые ГЦДС. Объект исследования – ведущие индустриальные регионы России (или промышленного типа) как часть национальной экономики и часть ГЦДС. Предмет исследования – социально-экономические отношения, возникающие при взаимодействии структурных элементов ИР со звеньями ГЦДС. Научная новизна состоит в выдвижении новой научной идеи интеграции ИР в ГЦС и ее теоретическом обосновании, смысл которой заключается в переходе от модели «forward» к «backward», а также предложении показателей, которые позволяют определить позиционирование внутригосударственного региона промышленного типа через призму конкретной отрасли и в предложении на этой основе приоритетов. Это дополняет «внутристрановую компоненту» научных исследований в области ГЦLС-концепций и в отношении ИР позволяет дополнить концепцию ИР как «территория для размещения предприятий экспортеров» к концепции «размещения звеньев ГЦС».

in English This diploma thesis encompasses the idea of the economic role of a state in relation to trends of globalization applying political science, political economy and economic geography. The idea goes on by progressively defined conceptions of societal institutions - the concept of a state and political nation on basis of the social contract, the conception of the fair society on basis of the work called Justice as Fairness by John Rawls, conception of globalization in terms of its trends in the area of changing division of work and rising income inequality, and conception of the character of changing roles of a state in relation to globalization and economy. Reference state is a small, internationaly opened, democratic and developed society, which holds western values and norms. It is assumed that in such society individuals pursue their own happiness as a notion of good life. In this aspect Justice as Fairness theory was chosen as a framework for society of equal citizens where economic transactions are considered fair and everybody is given the chance to pursue their own vision of their lives and such state of society shall remain preserved in time. Two main economic roles of a state are concluded by the analysis of consequences of chosen trends of globalization in relation to the...

Este trabalho busca avançar o conhecimento sobre Global Value Chains (GVC) e inovação com usuários ao estudar a influência da colaboração dos usuários finais no upgrading de desenvolvedores em cadeias digitais. A pesquisa sugere que esforços de inovação entre uma empresa fornecedora em cadeias digitais e seus usuários finais levam a tipos preferenciais de upgrading, que variam em função de características específicas da indústria de jogos e da governança da cadeia na qual o desenvolvedor está inserido. Os referenciais teóricos das Cadeias Globais de Valor (GVC), inovação com usuários finais e método de regressão logística são utilizados para estabelecer as estruturas analíticas para este trabalho. Os resultados do trabalho são: (i) validação do modelo MOA+ID (Motivação, Oportunidade, Habilidade, e Infraestrutura Digital) para estudar a colaboração entre fornecedores e usuário final; (ii) identificação que o impacto da interação com usuários finais no upgrading de desenvolvedores em cadeias jogos digitais depende de características específicas de tal indústria, e (iii) identificação que o impacto da interação com usuários no upgrading de desenvolvedores em cadeias jogos digitais depende da governança da cadeia na qual o desenvolvedor está inserido. Desenvolvedores de jogos pertencentes a cadeias cujas governança são dos tipos Mercado e Relacional apresentam upgrading devido a colaboração com usuário final por que possuem liberdade e competências para se beneficiarem da relação com usuários final. Desenvolvedores de jogos pertencentes a cadeias cujas governança são dos tipos Modular e Cativa não apresentam upgrading devido à interação com usuário devido ao baixo nível de dependência do governante da cadeia. / This work seeks to advance knowledge about Global Value Chains (GVC) and innovation with end-users through the study of the influence of collaboration with end-user on the upgrading of developers in digital chains. The research suggests that innovation efforts between a supplier in digital chains and end-users lead to preferential types of upgrading, which will vary depending on the specific characteristics of the digital gaming industry and the governance of the chain in which the developer is embedded. The theoretical frameworks of Global Value Chains (GVC), innovation with end-users and method of logistic regression are used to establish the analytical structures for this work. The results of the work are: (i) validation of the MOA + DI model (Motivation, Opportunity Ability, Digital Infrastructure) to study collaboration between suppliers and end-user; (ii) recognition that the impact of innovation with end-users on the upgrading of developers in digital game chains depends on specific characteristics of such industry, and (iii) recognition that the impact of innovation with end users on the upgrading of developers in digital game chains depends on the chain governance in which the developer is embedded. Game developers under the Market and Relational types of governance present upgrading due to collaboration with endusers because such developers have freedom and competencies to benefit from the end-user interface. Game developers under the Modular and Captive types of governance chains do not experienced upgrading due to the interface with end-user because such firms do not have opportunities and competencies to benefit from the end-user interface.

Este trabalho busca avançar o conhecimento sobre Global Value Chains (GVC) e inovação com usuários ao estudar a influência da colaboração dos usuários finais no upgrading de desenvolvedores em cadeias digitais. A pesquisa sugere que esforços de inovação entre uma empresa fornecedora em cadeias digitais e seus usuários finais levam a tipos preferenciais de upgrading, que variam em função de características específicas da indústria de jogos e da governança da cadeia na qual o desenvolvedor está inserido. Os referenciais teóricos das Cadeias Globais de Valor (GVC), inovação com usuários finais e método de regressão logística são utilizados para estabelecer as estruturas analíticas para este trabalho. Os resultados do trabalho são: (i) validação do modelo MOA+ID (Motivação, Oportunidade, Habilidade, e Infraestrutura Digital) para estudar a colaboração entre fornecedores e usuário final; (ii) identificação que o impacto da interação com usuários finais no upgrading de desenvolvedores em cadeias jogos digitais depende de características específicas de tal indústria, e (iii) identificação que o impacto da interação com usuários no upgrading de desenvolvedores em cadeias jogos digitais depende da governança da cadeia na qual o desenvolvedor está inserido. Desenvolvedores de jogos pertencentes a cadeias cujas governança são dos tipos Mercado e Relacional apresentam upgrading devido a colaboração com usuário final por que possuem liberdade e competências para se beneficiarem da relação com usuários final. Desenvolvedores de jogos pertencentes a cadeias cujas governança são dos tipos Modular e Cativa não apresentam upgrading devido à interação com usuário devido ao baixo nível de dependência do governante da cadeia. / This work seeks to advance knowledge about Global Value Chains (GVC) and innovation with end-users through the study of the influence of collaboration with end-user on the upgrading of developers in digital chains. The research suggests that innovation efforts between a supplier in digital chains and end-users lead to preferential types of upgrading, which will vary depending on the specific characteristics of the digital gaming industry and the governance of the chain in which the developer is embedded. The theoretical frameworks of Global Value Chains (GVC), innovation with end-users and method of logistic regression are used to establish the analytical structures for this work. The results of the work are: (i) validation of the MOA + DI model (Motivation, Opportunity Ability, Digital Infrastructure) to study collaboration between suppliers and end-user; (ii) recognition that the impact of innovation with end-users on the upgrading of developers in digital game chains depends on specific characteristics of such industry, and (iii) recognition that the impact of innovation with end users on the upgrading of developers in digital game chains depends on the chain governance in which the developer is embedded. Game developers under the Market and Relational types of governance present upgrading due to collaboration with endusers because such developers have freedom and competencies to benefit from the end-user interface. Game developers under the Modular and Captive types of governance chains do not experienced upgrading due to the interface with end-user because such firms do not have opportunities and competencies to benefit from the end-user interface.

本研究探討中國大陸紅色供應鏈之定義、形成背景、目的，並分析其對台灣與韓國的影響與因應策略，預期作為雙方堆動相關政策之參考依據。本研究定義紅色供應鏈為：中國大陸以國內生產的產品取代以往依賴進口的中間財，進而占領全球價值鏈中附加價值較高的地位，終致創造中國大陸主導的全新國際分工型態。本研究採用雁行模式與重商主義、自由主義等國際政治經濟理論的觀點分析紅色供應鏈，研究發現紅色供應鏈為加速調整雁行模式國際分工型態的主因之一，亦對台灣與韓國的政治經濟造成相當程度的衝擊。根據本研究分析中國大陸經由資本累積與技術進步階段、產業與技術升級階段、追趕與超越階段形成了紅色供應鏈。本研究透過面板產業、半導體產業、智慧型手機產業等台灣與韓國的主力產業為例探討紅色供應鏈對兩國經濟層面造成的影響，並提出近期實例推測紅色供應鏈於政治層面可能引起的交互作用。 / This study tries to analyze with the so-called China’s ‘Red Supply Chain’, which is defined as ‘the strategy that forms a new structure of China-led international specialization or division of labor through substituting imported intermediary goods with its domestic ones as well as occupying more higher added-values in the global value chains. It also aims at understanding such political economic changes’ impacts on the industries and domestic politics of the China’s major trading partners— Taiwan and South Korea. Based upon the theories—mercantilism, liberalism, and flying-geese model in international political economy, we find that this political change plays a significant role of opportunity as well as threat to the foreign relation between China and its two major neighbors. Such an argument is supported by the three case studies on display, semiconductor, and smartphone industries, which are seriously influenced by the China’s Red Supply Chain; first, in economic perspectives and second, in political perspectives. This study contributes to understanding the political economic interactions between China and its two neighbors that urgently deals with the changes and impacts from Red Supply Chain in comparative perspectives.