Das Projekt untersucht, wie Online-Handel und Hybridisierung des stationären Einzelhandels die lokale Arbeit entlang von Wertschöpfungsketten beeinflussen und wie diese Herausforderungen gestaltet werden können.

Es orientiert sich an den übergeordneten Fragestellungen:

(1) wie sich die Bedingungen, die räumliche Struktur, die Beschäftigungsverhältnisse und weitere Bereiche von Arbeit im hybriden Handel und im Online-Handel in internationalen Einzelhandelswertschöpfungsketten darstellen und verändern

(2) welche Möglichkeiten sich für Unternehmen, Gewerkschaften, Betriebsräte, nationale Politiken und weitere internationale Akteure bieten Arbeit vor Ort zu gestalten. 

Die empirische Grundlage bieten Dokumentenanalysen und qualitative Interviews an ausgewählten deutschen Standorten sowie mit internationalen Entscheidungsträgern in den Ketten in den USA und China.  
 

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Abstract:
Based on Ethiopian and Zambian case studies, this projects compares and explains how Chinese and domestic/African Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Sub-Saharan Africa contribute to regional development.

Aim:
This project aims to analyse 1. how and 2. why Special Economic Zones (SEZs) developed by African and Chinese developers in Sub-Saharan Africa contribute to regional development or develop into disintegrated enclaves. The study novelly combines conceptual considerations on enclaves, global production networks (GPN), and policy transfer. Empirically, the study will analyse and compare SEZs of Chinese and domestic African developers and their embedding regions in two different countries, Ethiopia and Zambia.

Research Activities:
Data collection in Zambia helped exploring the case studies of two SEZs, the Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone (domestic/African development) and the Lusaka East Multi-Facility Economic Zone (Chinese development). A mix of stakeholder workshop, site visits and detailed qualitative interviews with several actors (inside and outside the SEZs) was used. Furthermore, we compare policy documents such as plans and regulations, and media discourses from both countries. We frequently exchange and discuss insights and results with other researchers on that topic and general economic geography in meetings, colloquia and presentations.

Project Head: Prof. Dr. Peter Dannenberg
Investigator: Carolina Kiesel
International partners: Dr. Enock Sakala (University of Zambia), Prof. Dr. Alemayehu Geda (Addis Abeba University)
Funding: DFG GZ: DA 1128/9-1 (Period 2019-2022)

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Abstract:
This project investigates - on the basis of qualitative research results and in the context of the change of retail formats - the spatial effects of an increasing expansion of online food retailing in Germany.

Introduction:
The expansion of online food retailing in Germany is leading to a change in the previous operating forms of food retailing. Many new business models with dispatch and delivery concepts now complement the established structures of stationary retailing. This goes hand in hand with spatial implications, which affect the spatial organisation of the online food retail trade and the bricks-and-mortar trade. The project therefore investigates which new business forms are created by the use of the digital channel in food retailing and, on the other hand, how these bring about a (spatial) change in the existing structures in food retailing, e.g. with regard to logistical processes, space requirements, location decisions and customer interactions.

Project Head: Prof. Dr. Peter Dannenberg
Investigator: Dipl.-Geogr. Sebastian Dederichs

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Abstract:
Urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) operates in an ambiguous relation to rapid urban growth: On the one hand, urban expansion and land use change constrain urban and peri-urban farmers’ access to land and other resources; on the other hand, population growth and changing food consumption patterns offer new market opportunities for UPA. Between these poles, we analyse the spatiotemporal dynamics of market-oriented UPA and farmer´s responses to changing socio-spatial circumstances in two rapidly growing Kenyan cities: Nyeri and Nakuru. We use a mixed-methods approach combining geospatial analysis with quantitative and qualitative interviews, to better understand urban-growth related dynamics within UPA. In particular, we look for socio-economic and spatial factors to explain the juxtaposition of replacement, persistence, and intensification of UPA in the Global South.

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Abstract:

This project aims to examine China´s emerging Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as  ‘beltscapes’ as a potential new format of global connectiveness and planetary urbanism.

Introduction:

This proposed study aims to analyse 1. explore the impact of BRI on urban development and 2. urban planning in the endpoint cities. Empirically, the study will analyse primary and secondary data on the impacts of BRI on foreign direct investment, patterns of industry specialization/diversification, urbanization and fiscal position of city governments. This includes media and document analysis and qualitative interviews with stakeholders.

Project Head: Prof. Dr. Peter Dannenberg
Investigator: Lisa-Michéle Bott (PhD student), Johanna Fellbrich (Master student)
International partners: Prof. Nicholas Phelps (University of Melbourne), Julie Tian Miao (Senior Lecturer), Xiao Zhang (PhD student), Zhuoya Kang (PhD student)
Funding: DAAD (01/ 2020 – 12/2021)

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Description:
Growth corridors are one again gaining attention as possible avenues of future development in sub-Saharan Africa. Multi-stakeholder initiatives integrate rural areas into global value chains in order to achieve socio-economic development. Critics argue, however, that growth corridors intensify social conflicts, external dependencies, land grabs, and the maldistribution of wealth.

Support:
DFG

Duration:
2018 - 2021

Abstract
This research is part of the studies of international retirement migration, land markets and changes in the territory. Using the example of the rural city of Cotacachi in Ecuador, this study analyzes how the sale of agricultural land for the construction of housing developments for retired foreigners is affecting the organization of space and the living conditions of indigenous communities.

Introduction
Today, Cotacachi is considered one of the world's favorite retirement destinations largely due to the low cost of living, excellent climatic conditions and cheap medical services. Nevertheless, with the massive influx of foreign retires, a number of problems are emerging, which are generating changes in the economic, social and cultural structure, but also leading to complex changes that are taking place in the territory.

Research Activities

In order to identify the different impacts that are taking place in the city, a multi-temporal map of  the growth of foreign-owned properties has been developed, data from the real estate sector has been collected and analyzed, and several semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders and community leaders have been conducted.

Project Head: Prof. Dr. Peter Dannenberg
Investigator: Marcelo Crespo Enríquez
Funding: DAAD (Period 2019-2020)

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In internationalen Wertschöpfungsketten spielen Umweltmanagementstandards (EMS) eine zunehmend wichtige Rolle. Dabei ist die Einführung von EMS für die Produzenten häufig mit Problemen und Hemmnissen verbunden. Während die Rolle von Governance-Strukturen auf die Verbreitung von EMS bereits betrachtet wurde, existieren kaum Untersuchungen zum Einfluss unterschiedlicher Akteure außerhalb der Kette. Allerdings ist davon auszugehen, dass je nach Art der Kette, insbesondere Akteure der Zielregion (z.B. NGOs) über Konsumenten und Handel Einfluss auf den Produzenten bei der Einführung und Umsetzung der EMS nehmen können. Dabei stellt sich die Frage, inwiefern solche Cross Regional Influences (CRI) aus den Zielregionen, in Abhängigkeit von regionalen Unterschieden (z.B. von Entwicklungsstand, Ziel- und Wertemustern), zu Akzeptanzproblemen der Produzenten gegenüber den EMS führen können und damit die erfolgreiche Umsetzung und Verbreitung der EMS behindern. Ziel des Projektes ist es, am Vergleich der Obst- und Gemüsewertschöpfungsketten Kenia - EU und Südafrika - Subsahara-Afrika1 die Bedeutung von CRI und Akzeptanz auf die Einführung, Umsetzung und räumliche Verbreitung von EMS darzustellen, zu erklären und daraus Handlungsempfehlungen abzuleiten. Als theoretische Basis dienen Ansätze zu Wertschöpfungsketten, die durch die Bereiche CRI und Akzeptanz erweitert werden sollen. Die empirische Grundlage bieten qualitative Interviews entlang der Wertschöpfungsketten und quantitative Befragungen in den Produzentenregionen.

DFG-Verfahren Sachbeihilfen
Internationaler Bezug: Kenia, Südafrika

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Description:

Region: Africa

Department: Institute for Geography

Research Area: Natural Commodities and Changing Markets in the Global South

Period: 2013-01

Person(s): Peter Dannenberg