| Abstract: | This paper investigates the impact of global value chain (GVC) participation on productivity. It uses data on trade in value‐added from the World Input‐Output Database. The results based on a panel estimation covering 13 sectors in 40 countries over 15 years suggest that participation in GVCs is a significant driver of labour productivity. Backward participation in GVCs, that is, the use of imported inputs to produce for exports, emerges as particularly important. An increase by 10% in the level of GVC participation increased average productivity by close to 1.6%. |
