Behavioral Transitions to Social Sustainability in Global Production Networks

Global production networks (GPNs) in developing countries are often characterized by precarious working conditions, including issues of health and occupational safety, low wages, extensive overtime and the use of child and forced labor. Using case studies from the smartphone and garment sectors, this dissertation explores whether and to what degree a behavioral transition towards greater social sustainability has been taking place in these industries among both consumers and producers since 1990. To this end, the heterodox and heuristic Model of Behavioral Transitions to Sustainability is developed and implemented using a mixed-method approach of a quantitative media coverage analysis, a qualitative systematic process analysis of relevant historical events and expert interviews based upon behavioral models for both consumers and producers. The results include key drivers and obstacles for the transition in each industry as well as insights on causal relationships and interactions between various stakeholders that have characterized the developments in each sector through the year 2016.