A inserção em cadeias globais de valor: o caso da aglomeração moveleira de São Bento do Sul

Abstract

This paper concerns the possibilities that industrial clusters have to provide a better positioning in the globalization dynamics for local-regional structures. The main purpose is to present and discuss the interaction—first elaborated by Humphrey and Schmitz (2000)—between specialized productive clusters on the one hand and global value chains on the other hand (Gereffi, 1994). The discussion begins with the identification of the main features of such interaction and continues with an analysis of a concrete experience, which is based on empirical research in the furniture industry at São Bento do Sul (SC). The conclusion is that São Bento do Sul’s furniture industry has continuously inserted itself in the furniture global value chain in a subordinated position. This has been the case in spite of the gradual improvement of its local governance, starting with the 1990’s economic opening at the moment the region specializes its production and begins to supply almost exclusively the external market. Key words: specialized productive clusters; global value chains; governance structure.