Global Value Chain Participation and the Technology Structure of Exports: Experience From The Central And Southeast European Countries

Producing and incorporating technologically complex goods in the production process is a fundamental pillar to achieving long-term economic development. In this sense, integration into the global production and trade networks is viewed by many countries as a way to achieve this technological improvement. This paper examines the relationship between global value chain (GVC) integration and technology absorption through trade in high-tech products of Central and Southeast European countries over the period 1996-2019. We construct a GVC participation measure applying the latest Broad Economic Categories (BEC) classification that distinguishes between generic and specific intermediate goods. We also analyse the technology structure of exports at a country level and the sectoral level. Using panel data estimation techniques, we find that higher participation in GVCs enhances the export of hightech products at both country and sectoral levels. This result is robust to different regression models including the use of lagged control variables and instrumental variables.