Cornelia Staritz

Papers

Total Citations

114

H-Index

About

Cornelia Staritz is a leading scholar in global value chains, development economics, and the political economy of trade. Her work critically examines how shifting production networks, automation, and labor dynamics reshape opportunities for developing economies. In her highly cited 2020 paper, "Exporting out of China or out of Africa? Automation versus relocation in the global clothing industry" (114 citations), Staritz investigates whether rising industrial wages in China will catalyze a relocation of labor-intensive garment assembly to Africa—or instead accelerate automation, potentially bypassing the continent. This research challenges conventional narratives of industrial upgrading, revealing the complex interplay between technological change and global sourcing strategies. Staritz’s broader contributions include analyzing power asymmetries in value chains, the role of standards and governance, and the constraints facing low-income countries in capturing economic gains from trade. Her work is widely cited by policymakers and academics, with several papers accumulating hundreds of citations. She has also contributed to influential reports for international organizations like the UNCTAD and the World Bank. Through rigorous empirical analysis and a critical lens, Staritz provides essential insights for students and researchers seeking to understand the future of global production and development in an era of digital transformation.