Lindsay Whitfield
Papers
1
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114
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1
About
Lindsay Whitfield is a leading scholar in the political economy of development, with a sharp focus on industrial policy, global value chains, and economic transformation in Africa. Her work critically examines how developing countries can break into global manufacturing, particularly in the clothing industry. In her highly cited 2020 paper, *“Exporting out of China or out of Africa? Automation versus relocation in the global clothing industry”* (114 citations), Whitfield challenges the optimistic narrative that rising Chinese wages will automatically shift production to Africa. Instead, she reveals a more complex reality: automation and technological change may keep production in Asia, threatening Africa’s window of opportunity. This contribution is pivotal for understanding the intersection of global trade, labor, and technology. Whitfield’s research is essential reading for anyone studying how latecomer economies can navigate the shifting dynamics of global capitalism, and her work has shaped debates among policymakers and scholars alike on the feasibility of industrial catch-up in the 21st century.
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