IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bpj/zfwige/v68y2024i3-4p213-225n1002.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

State power, Global Production Networks, and underdevelopment: examining South Carolina’s success in fostering strategic coupling

Author

Listed:
  • Teixeira Tiago

    (Department of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Strategy, 5995 Northumbria University , Ellison Pl, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, England)

Abstract

Under the notion of strategic coupling, GPN scholarship acknowledges the pivotal role of firms and non-firm actors in integrating regions into value chains and in regional development. However, the GPN 2.0 approach has focused largely on firms with limited attention to state managers’ practices in coupling creation. This paper addresses this gap by engaging with Jessop’s strategic-relational approach, Fred Block, and uneven and combined development theory to examine state managers’ action in coupling creation. Examining South Carolina as a case study, the paper argues that its success in attracting foreign direct investments (FDIs) stems from the interplay of state power, a manufacturing fraction of capital, and underdevelopment. South Carolina leverages its underdevelopment to create policies that attract FDIs and promote strategic coupling. Three key dimensions of state action are identified: fluidity and flexibility, commitment to right-to-work status, and alignment of the education system with corporate interests. This research is based on qualitative methods. Thirty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted in South Carolina.

Suggested Citation

  • Teixeira Tiago, 2024. "State power, Global Production Networks, and underdevelopment: examining South Carolina’s success in fostering strategic coupling," ZFW – Advances in Economic Geography, De Gruyter, vol. 68(3-4), pages 213-225.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:zfwige:v:68:y:2024:i:3-4:p:213-225:n:1002
    DOI: 10.1515/zfw-2024-0044
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1515/zfw-2024-0044
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1515/zfw-2024-0044?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bpj:zfwige:v:68:y:2024:i:3-4:p:213-225:n:1002. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Peter Golla (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.degruyter.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.