Papers
1
Total Citations
114
H-Index
1
About
Chen Xiao is a leading scholar in global value chains and the political economy of industrial development, with a particular focus on the future of labor-intensive manufacturing in the Global South. Her most-cited work, "Exporting out of China or out of Africa? Automation versus relocation in the global clothing industry" (2020, 114 citations), fundamentally reshaped debates on automation and offshoring. In this seminal Discussion Paper, Xiao critically examines whether rising industrial wages in China will create a manufacturing windfall for Africa, or if automation will instead render relocation obsolete. By dissecting the clothing industry—the traditional stepping stone for industrializing nations—she reveals the complex interplay between technological change and global production networks. Xiao’s research challenges simplistic narratives of a "China plus one" strategy, offering nuanced insights into how developing countries can navigate the shifting landscape of global trade. Her work is essential reading for students and policymakers seeking to understand the real-world implications of automation on economic development and the future of work in an era of deglobalization.
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