Global Operations and Supply Chain Configurations: Reshoring Dynamics in Europe

In recent years, the growing tensions in trade and investment between major developed countries (e.g., US) and leading developing countries (e.g., China), the thinning of location advantages in some low-cost countries, and the growing awareness of the “total cost” of offshoring have driven many companies to re-think the location of their international value chains. Previously offshored operations have been relocated to countries closer to the companies’ headquarters or even to the domestic context. This phenomenon is referred to as “reshoring”. Extant literature on reshoring has provided rich insights into why companies reshore by identifying an array of motivations. It has also enlightened us that reshoring is complex and dynamic. Despite the fact that the dialogue has shifted gradually from why aspect towards a wider scope involving how companies reshore and what the outcomes are, the nuanced understanding of reshoring dynamics is still lacking. Prior studies fall far short in addressing questions concerning reshoring trends and features, the determinants of key strategic decisions, country effects, and reshoring impact. The purpose of this thesis is to probe the dynamics of reshoring with a particular focus on reshoring or repatriation of manufacturing production in Europe. More in detail, we have set five objectives: (1) provide a systematic understanding of the reshoring literature, (2) analyse the dynamics and evolution of reshoring in Europe, (3) investigate the determinants of reshoring entry modes, (4) compare reshoring practices and analyse how the home country matters, and (5) articulate frontier issues and propose future research directions. This thesis is based on the large-scale data of reshoring projects recorded in the European Reshoring Monitor (ERM) database whose goal is to identify, analyse and summarise evidence on the reshoring of manufacturing and other value-chain activities to the EU. ERM project, as part of a multi-annual research (2015-18) project on the “Future of Manufacturing in Europe”, is based on a collaboration between Eurofound and a consortium of Italian universities with an active interest in tracking reshoring activities. The lead university in the consortium is the University of Udine. The writer of this thesis has been deeply involved in this project since its inception and has undertaken database creation and management tasks. In general, the key empirical findings reflect the dynamism and evolutionary trajectories of reshoring practices and the complexity of reshoring countries that themselves differ in terms of institutional environment, industrial conditions, and culture. These empirical findings, together with future research directions proposed, have many theoretical and practical implications.