Globalization, Poverty and Inequality: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

"This book is a significant contribution to literature on globalisation and to the theory of global value chains. Clearly written and data rich, it presents compelling evidence that globalisation itself - by intensifying competition between low wage producers - is perpetuating poverty and amplifying inequality."

Political Studies Review

"This book is a useful addition to the growing literature on globalisation. It is well-balanced, well-researched and relatively jargon-free."

Development Policy Review

"Contains much new material and results of original research which should enable the reader to rise above the simplicities of 'globalization good' and 'globalization bad'."

Sir Hans Singer

"Highly readable and informative and challenges many of our assumptions about how industrialization and globalization works and how we might manage the process more effectively and equitably. It ought to be on the 'required reading' list for any courses which deal with the challenge of managing technological and industrial change"

John Bessant

"Uncovers the perils as well as the promise of globalization in an unvarnished look at winners, losers, and the new rules of the game in the global economy."

Gary Gereffi

"Kaplinsky’s book provides a powerful and insightful vision of the opportunities and threats of globalization. His view of today’s complex global economy examines the aggregate picture relating it to the historical context and with constant reference to specific cases that exemplify and deepen the understanding of the various processes at play.

His own considered view is that many economies in Latin America and Africa, and many people in the advanced industrial economies, are likely to be clear losers in a globalizing economy. Yet the analysis is rich enough to feed both sides of the necessary debate on whether globalization could become a positive-sum game for both advanced and developing countries."

Carlota Perez, Universities of Cambridge and Sussex

"This book is a rich contribution to the growing body of critical literature on globalisation."

The Hindu, Chennai, India