Knowledge mapping of Global Value Chain: A visual analysis using VOSviewer and CiteSpace

Abstract

This study offers a systematic review of academic research on Global Value Chain. By using two visualization tools named VOSviewer and CiteSpace, the paper analyzed 583 articles on global value chain research from the Web of Science database. The paper has discerned the most impact publications in the GVC research. In addition, the paper has explored the structures of the cited references to further understand the theoretical basis of the global value chain research. Moreover, by evolution analysis through CiteSpace, the study explored the evolution process of global value chain research and predicted the future development trends. The results conjunctively achieved by VOSviewer and CiteSpace will enhance understanding of global value chain research and enable future developments for both theorists and practitioners.