The Competitiveness of Goldwind in the Western Wind Power Industry
Author
Thyrsted, Mette Sørensen
Term
4. term
Publication year
2022
Submitted on
2022-05-25
Pages
60
Abstract
This thesis examines why Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co., Ltd., a leading Chinese wind turbine manufacturer, is competitive in the Western wind power industry. Guided by the research question of why Goldwind is competitive, the study combines a mixed-methods design with a single explanatory case study. It integrates two analytical lenses: the global value chain approach—focusing on firm-centered governance and upgrading—and a world-systems perspective that foregrounds the role of state capitalism. Applied to empirical material, the analysis indicates that Goldwind’s competitiveness rests on several factors, including its broad geographical scope, firm-centered governance of its value chain, and ongoing upgrading. Considering Chinese state capitalism, the state appears as a facilitating actor in Goldwind’s global value chain, with extensive support that confers advantages on Chinese turbine manufacturers. The thesis discusses whether China’s advantageous position in the world economy stems from successful industrial upgrading or from positions within global value chain hierarchies shaped by state capitalism, and concludes that state capitalism substantially influences Goldwind’s competitiveness. The study contributes to a still underdeveloped field by linking GVC governance and upgrading with the effects of Chinese state capitalism in a concrete case from the wind industry.
Dette speciale undersøger, hvorfor Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co., Ltd., en ledende kinesisk producent af vindmøller, er konkurrencedygtig i den vestlige vindkraftindustri. Med udgangspunkt i forskningsspørgsmålet om årsagerne til Goldwinds konkurrenceevne kombinerer studiet en mixed methods-tilgang med et enkelt, forklarende casestudie. Analysen integrerer to teoretiske perspektiver: værdikædeansatsen (global value chains) med fokus på virksomhedsnær styring og opgradering samt verdenssystem-tilgangen, der inddrager statskapitalismens betydning. Anvendt på empirisk materiale peger analysen på, at Goldwinds konkurrenceevne bygger på flere forhold, herunder virksomhedens geografiske rækkevidde, en firmecentreret styring af værdikæden og løbende opgradering. Når den kinesiske statskapitalismes rolle tages i betragtning, fremstår staten som en faciliterende aktør i Goldwinds globale værdikæde, hvor omfattende støtte giver kinesiske producenter et forspring. Specialet diskuterer, om Kinas gunstige position i verdensøkonomien skyldes vellykket industriel opgradering eller placering i globale værdikædehierarkier formet af statskapitalisme, og konkluderer, at statskapitalismen i høj grad præger Goldwinds konkurrenceevne. Arbejdet bidrager til et underudviklet forskningsfelt ved at forbinde GVC-styring og opgradering med effekterne af kinesisk statskapitalisme i en konkret case fra vindindustrien.
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