Beschreibung
Interest in the topic of governance and interfirm relationships in the
Ethiopian leather and leather products industry was developed after
observing a gap in the literature on value chain research at the
international level and finding only a few empirical studies on value
chains at the local level. Most of the value chain research conducted
throughout the world are either too general or are simply functionalistic
and, thus, fail to address the socio-cultural context. This study
contributes to the literature in several ways: firstly, the present
research suggests that a central focus of value chain analysis should be
the examination of social networks within local, but also global, value
chains, as social relations might play an important and so far neglected
role in the struggle to participate in the rapidly changing world economy.
Secondly, as a clear departure from mainstream value chain research, this
study makes use of a mixture of value chain and network approaches for
exploring processes and micro-level interactions used by individuals to
construct and maintain networks.
Tebarek Lika is a lecturer in Geography at Addis Ababa University. Tebarek
completed a PhD in Development Geography at Bayreuth University (BIGSAS)
and holds a Master’s in Human Geography and a Master’s in Critical
Practitioner Inquiry for Educators. His research interests are in the
areas of urban economic development, value chains, ethnic
entrepreneurship, gender and housing.
