--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-32/its-a-small-small-world-a-guided-tour-of-the-belgian-production-network/" title: "It’s a Small, Small World… A Guided Tour of the Belgian Production Network" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-13T07:42:32+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-13T07:42:32+00:00" post_type: "ipm" summary: "" ipm_issue_period: - "Spring 2017" ipm_keyword: - "Belgium" - "exports" - "firm-level" - "GVC" - "indirect trade" - "National Bank of Belgium" - "production network" - "productivity" - "transaction data" ipm_research_theme: - "Trade" ipm_country_focus: - "Belgium" - "Europe" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IPM_50_banner.webp" status: "publish" --- # It’s a Small, Small World… A Guided Tour of the Belgian Production Network Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-32/its-a-small-small-world-a-guided-tour-of-the-belgian-production-network/ # It’s a Small, Small World… A Guided Tour of the Belgian Production Network [Download full PDF article](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-32-5-Dhyne-Duprez.pdf) Cite this article × Cite this article as: Dhyne, Emmanuel, and Cédric Duprez. 2017. “It’s a Small, Small World… A Guided Tour of the Belgian Production Network.” International Productivity Monitor, No. 32 (Spring 2017): 84–96. https://www.csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-32/its-a-small-small-world-a-guided-tour-of-the-belgian-production-network/ ## Authors: - Emmanuel Dhyne National Bank of Belgium - Cédric Duprez University of Mons ## IPM Issue 32 Spring 2017 pp. 84–96 ## Related IPM articles [The Relationship between Efficiencies Defenses for Mergers and TFP Growth Robin Shaban Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 82–102](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/the-relationship-between-efficiencies-defenses-for-mergers-and-tfp-growth/) [Adult Skills and Productivity: New Evidence from PIAAC 2023 Dan Andrews, Balázs Égert, Christine de La Maisonneuve Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 41–63](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/adult-skills-and-productivity-new-evidence-from-piaac-2023/) [The Potential Impact of Pro-competitive Regulatory Reforms on Productivity and Growth in Canada Gilbert Cette, Jimmy Lopez, Giuseppe Nicoletti, Océane Vernerey Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 3–40](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/the-potential-impact-of-pro-competitive-regulatory-reforms-on-productivity-and-growth-in-canada/) [Appendix: UK Productivity Growth Rates Across Data Vintages and Studies Josh Martin Spring 2025 | IPM Issue 48 | pp. 65–73](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-48/appendix-uk-productivity-growth-rates-across-data-vintages-and-studies/) [Opportunities and Risks of Artificial Intelligence for Productivity Francesco Filippucci, Peter Gal, Katharina Laengle, Matthias Schief, Filiz Unsal Spring 2025 | IPM Issue 48 | pp. 1–26](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-48/opportunities-and-risks-of-artificial-intelligence-for-productivity/) [Using Ecosystem Accounting to Integrate the Environment in Measures of Multifactor Productivity Carl Obst Fall 2024 | IPM Issue 47 | pp. 87–108](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-47/using-ecosystem-accounting-to-integrate-the-environment-in-measures-of-multifactor-productivity/) [Eroding Natural Capital: An Alternative Explanation for the Secular Decline in Productivity Growth Christina Caron Fall 2024 | IPM Issue 47 | pp. 109–147](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-47/eroding-natural-capital-an-alternative-explanation-for-the-secular-decline-in-productivity-growth/) [How Does Industrial Policy Impact Output, Hours and Productivity? The Canadian Experience Tim Sargent Fall 2024 | IPM Issue 47 | pp. 39–53](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-47/how-does-industrial-policy-impact-output-hours-and-productivity-the-canadian-experience/) [Climate Change and Productivity — An Exploration Dirk Pilat Fall 2024 | IPM Issue 47 | pp. 54–86](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-47/climate-change-and-productivity-an-exploration/) [Could Domestic Industrial Policies, Even With Global Fragmentation, Revive Productivity? Catherine Mann Fall 2024 | IPM Issue 47 | pp. 3–19](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-47/could-domestic-industrial-policies-even-with-global-fragmentation-revive-productivity/) ## Abstract ## Résumé EN FR Copy link Email LinkedIn This article presents stylized facts about the participation of Belgian firms in global and local value chains, using transaction data at the firm level to depict the Belgian production network and its integration in the world economy. These data allow the identification of the various channels through which a Belgian firm has access to the world market, either to source its inputs or to sell its output. We also discuss how the level of efficiency of individual firms is related to their position in the local and global value chains. Production fragmentation is a pervasive phe- Cet article présente des faits stylisés sur la participation des entreprises belges aux chaînes de valeur mondiales et locales, en utilisant des données de transaction au niveau des entreprises pour dépeindre le réseau de production belge et son intégration dans l’économie mondiale. Ces données permettent d’identifier les différents canaux par lesquels une entreprise belge a accès au marché mondial, soit pour s’approvisionner en intrants, soit pour vendre sa production. Nous examinons également comment le niveau d’efficience des entreprises individuelles est lié à leur position dans les chaînes de valeur locales et mondiales. [Download full PDF](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-32-5-Dhyne-Duprez.pdf)