When path extension and structural coupling generate sustained regional development: the semiconductor industry in Penang, Malaysia

IF 6.4 2区经济学 Q1 DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

Cambridge Journal of Regions Economy and Society Pub Date : 2026-09-23 DOI:10.1093/cjres/rsag040

Tobias Wuttke

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Abstract

Abstract Bridging the literatures on regional industrial path development and global production networks, this article examines the conditions under which regional industrial path extension based on structural coupling can generate sustained positive development outcomes. Drawing on a case study of Malaysia’s semiconductor industry (1971–2025), with the state of Penang at its centre, the analysis combines export and foreign direct investment data with 22 semi-structured interviews. Contrary to expectations of path exhaustion and decoupling, Malaysia’s experience shows that prolonged positive development outcomes can occur based on repeated multinational reinvestment, driven by industry dynamism (motivation to invest) and by facilitative policy and cumulative cluster effects reinforcing a competitive cost-capability ratio (location choice). While recent geoeconomic tensions have intensified investment inflows, standard global production network drivers remain decisive, highlighting the need to contextualise geoeconomics within broader production network dynamics.

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当路径延伸和结构耦合产生持续的区域发展：马来西亚槟城的半导体产业

摘要本文结合区域产业路径发展和全球生产网络的相关文献，探讨了基于结构耦合的区域产业路径延伸能够产生持续积极发展成果的条件。根据马来西亚半导体产业（1971-2025）的案例研究（以槟城为中心），该分析结合了出口和外国直接投资数据，并进行了22次半结构化访谈。与路径枯竭和脱钩的预期相反，马来西亚的经验表明，在产业活力（投资动机）、促进政策和累积集群效应的推动下，跨国公司的重复再投资可以产生长期的积极发展结果，从而增强竞争性成本-能力比（地点选择）。虽然最近地缘经济紧张加剧了投资流入，但标准的全球生产网络驱动因素仍然具有决定性，这凸显了将地缘经济置于更广泛的生产网络动态背景下的必要性。

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来源期刊

Cambridge Journal of Regions Economy and Society Multiple-

CiteScore

7.90

自引率

4.50%

发文量