Title: The role of transport services in building outsourcing industries

Aim: What role do Danish shipping and logistic companies play in integrating developing countries into global value chains?

Countries: Vietnam, Malaysia, Ghana (Kenya)

Project brief: The study concerns the role of the shipping industry in integrating developing countries into global value chains and building local outsourcing industries. This aspect of outsourcing is overlooked in the literature on industrial development strategy (Pedersen 2001). A key hypothesis will be that transport companies may play a pivotal independent role in integrating developing countries into global markets.

Theoretically, the project will focus on Porter’s Global Value Chain theory (Porter 1986) as modified by Stabel and Fjeldstad. Moreover transaction cost economics and its notion of the role of transaction costs in determining internationalisation patters may also be relevant, as shipping companies may play an important role in reducing the transaction costs of inter-firm collaboration across borders. Finally, the economic literature on the role of transport in development may inspire the study (Pedersen).

The role of shipping is of course particularly relevant from a Danish perspective due to the central role that the shipping industry plays in Denmark. The study will examine the role of the shipping industry in Vietnam and Ghana or possibly Kenya. Focus will be on Mærsk, which has proven very forthcoming in engaging in collaboration with the project team.

Participants: Michael W Hansen, Henrik Schaumburg-Müller, Majbritt Greve

Time for field trips: July- August 2006-2007