Authorities and hubs in global value chains: exploring the role of network centrality

Authorities and hubs in global value chains: exploring the role of network centrality | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Authorities and hubs in global value chains: exploring the role of network centrality Marta Solaz, Mariola Sánchez This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6723492/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This paper explores the evolution of global value chains (GVCs) from 1995 to 2020 to assess the changes that have taken place during the last decades. Using country-sector data from the OECD’s TiVA database, we apply network techniques and graph theory to characterize the structure of the GVC network. We are interested in comparing the network at different moments in time to assess how its structure has evolved, and which countries and sectors -and how- participate in the network. To do so, we compute centrality metrics to identify countries and country-sectors’ position within these global production networks. Using the weighted hyperlink-induced topic search (HITS) algorithm, we identify key hubs and authorities in the GVC network: a hub is relevant supplier that is connected with relevant buyers, while an authority is a relevant buyer which is itself connected with relevant suppliers. Additionally, we also examine if the position of country-sectors in the GVC network matters: we conduct panel regressions to assess if changes in network centrality have an impact on upgrading in GVCs, as measured by changes in the domestic value-added content of gross exports. Our results suggest that centrality plays an important role, especially as a buyer: according to our preferred estimation, a 1 percentage point increase in a country-sector’s authority score leads to an increase in the rate of growth of domestic value added embodied in exports of 0.39 percentage points, whereas increases in the hub score boost domestic value added in exports by 0.14 pp. Being well connected to the sources of value-added seems to play a more important role in benefiting from GVC participation. JEL codes: F14, F60 Global value chains international trade network analysis economic upgrading Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Supplementary Files Appendixsupplementaryinformation.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6723492","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":460353924,"identity":"31183c58-846a-4478-bc75-5241a0a8dcd8","order_by":0,"name":"Marta Solaz","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAy0lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDADPgYGxgfEKmZsAJFsDAzMBiRrYZMgSr1u+9nnD34w1MmxsR9/Vs3bxiAn30BAi9mZdMPGHobDxmw8CWm3gVqMDQ4Q0nIgjbGBh+FAYhtDwrHbPGcYEjcQcpjZ+WeMjX8Y6hLb+B+2FQO11M8n6LAbaYzNPAzMiW0SyWzMPBUMCQwEHXbjGeNsGQOgXySeMUvOqZAw3EBQy/k0ho9vKurk+PnTH354Y2AjTzDEIAARh8RFzSgYBaNgFIwCAgAALuM4QtU6vlsAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5985-5033","institution":"Universitat de València","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Marta","middleName":"","lastName":"Solaz","suffix":""},{"id":460353925,"identity":"c3eba4b0-4a81-4706-a802-13b22979fd44","order_by":1,"name":"Mariola Sánchez","email":"","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0211-3212","institution":"Universidad de Murcia","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mariola","middleName":"","lastName":"Sánchez","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-05-22 09:38:18","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":false,"vertebrateSubjects":false,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false,"humanSubjectConsent":false,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6723492/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6723492/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":85035445,"identity":"981a2ef4-3fb0-4820-85fe-184de35d0500","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-06-20 08:16:53","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":607864,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"CentralityinGVCs.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6723492/v1_covered_a966c803-d8df-4bd5-97dc-f39d3603d0de.pdf"},{"id":85034077,"identity":"064a5314-8ea3-49d7-bfc8-df84e588c9e1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-06-20 08:00:51","extension":"docx","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":47259,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Appendixsupplementaryinformation.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6723492/v1/c202d5eb86150c47350211f5.docx"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eAuthorities and hubs in global value chains: exploring the role of network centrality\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"Universitat de València","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Global value chains, international trade, network analysis, economic upgrading","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6723492/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6723492/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis paper explores the evolution of global value chains (GVCs) from 1995 to 2020 to assess the changes that have taken place during the last decades. 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