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Linda Stihl

Linda Stihl

Postdoctoral fellow

Linda Stihl

Circular transitions in global production networks?: : a multi-scalar approach to anticipating socio-economic and socio-environmental effects of ‘x-shoring’

Author

  • Jonathan Friedrich
  • Linda Stihl
  • Markus Grillitsch

Summary, in English

The circular economy (CE) is argued as a possible model for dealing with value chain instabilities in global production networks. Since geographical proximity is central to unlocking circular potential, x-shoring (including concepts like reshoring, resourcing, or friendshoring) is arguably key to this process. Often, spatial restructurings of the CE are embraced without a critical examination of their multi-scalar effects. Nevertheless, spatial restructuring of the economy inevitably produces winners and losers. To navigate the tensions that arise in the context of uneven development and environmental (in)justice, we present a framework for anticipating plausible socio-economic and socio-environmental effects of x-shoring processes across place, scale, and time. We illustrate our framework with insights from the literature on old industrial regions and cases documented in the Environmental Justice Atlas. Our framework represents a holistic approach that integrates interdisciplinary literature from different disciplines. We discuss the ambivalent effects of x-shoring across space, scale, and time, principles for navigating the tensions that arise, and outline research avenues for a thorough exploration of the geography of x-shoring in the CE and beyond. Because of the ambivalence of these processes, we conclude that research must embrace the complexity of these developments by employing integrative, multi-scalar approaches that empower local agency.

Department/s

  • CIRCLE
  • Department of Human Geography
  • Department of Economic History

Publishing year

2024-08-09

Language

English

Publication/Series

Papers in Innovation Studies

Volume

2024

Issue

9

Document type

Working paper

Topic

  • Social and Economic Geography
  • Environmental Management

Keywords

  • Global production networks
  • global value chains
  • trade-off
  • Circular economy
  • anticipation

Status

Published

Project

  • Circular Value & Supply Chains, Regional Development, and Multi-Level Policy Dynamics