“An investigation of Malta’s evolution in global value chains and the implications for sustainable development”

Farrugia, E. V. (2020) “An investigation of Malta’s evolution in global value chains and the implications for sustainable development”. Doctoral thesis (PhD), Manchester Metropolitan University.

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Abstract

This research presents an investigation into the development of FDI manufacturing companies and the business of their logistics partners within a host economy state and the evolvement of the host economy state itself. The gathered data provided information to satisfy the aim of this study to understand what makes a host state attractive to multinational enterprises in their global value chains, the state’s development policy and the implications for sustainable development, the so-called ‘triple bottom line’ of economy, society and environment. To accomplish this task, a range of literature is evaluated to acquire a foundation of knowledge and to explore possible extant scholarship on the investigated elements within this study. This exploratory research is underpinned by an interpretive epistemology and a qualitative case study approach with a plan to collect and analyse evidence (Flick, 2009). The research was conducted in Malta. Open-ended interviews were held with high ranking representatives of FDI case study companies and logistics service providers; and with key informants within government and non-government institutions and agencies and academia at the national level. All participants’ responses provide experiences and perceptions representing their everyday context and the real-life situations of their practices, policies and interactions, with implications for sustainability. The provided primary data were collected between 2017 and 2018. Emerging topics from the data at every stage have been discussed with the participants. This research is a longitudinal study, including a historical background for the underlying and developmental aspects and highlights implications for global value chain policies, regional development policies, sustainable economic growth, institutionalism and co-evolution, providing a contribution to theory and practice.