Globalization, de-globalization, and re-globalization: Some historical context and the impact of the COVID pandemic

Pattern changes of ecological product trade in countries along the Belt and Road

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was designed to promote economic and trade cooperation between countries along the Belt and Road (B&R), specifically by building an international trade network. Ecological resources are the basis for human survival. Countries along the B&R transform ecological resources into ecological products by production activities. These products can then be used for trade, thereby driving the countries' economic development. This study uses net primary productivity (NPP) as a unified measure of ecological products, and explores the pattern changes of ecological product trade in countries along the B&R, from 2013 to 2019 (from the BRI proposal to the outbreak of COVID-19). The purpose of the study is to reveal the impact of the BRI on the trade of ecological products. The results show that (1) the trade scale of ecological products in the B&R region has changed significantly. The total volume of traded ecological products increased from 2071.74 to 2631.00 TgC. This represented an increase of about 26.99%, or 7.41% higher than the global average. (2) The spatial distribution pattern of ecological product trade did not change significantly in countries along the B&R. However, the gravity centers of the total and net trade volume of ecological products moved 120.74 km to the northeast and 392.98 km to the southeast, respectively. (3) The trade structure of ecological products in the B&R region, six sub-regions, and most countries remained relatively stable. Only the proportion of the livestock products trade in Mongolia and the proportion of the forest products trade in Bhutan have increased significantly. This finding suggests that the strength and breadth of the construction of unimpeded trade in countries along the B&R still need to further strengthened, in order to accelerate the realization of the vision of the Green Silk Road.

Creating supply chain resilience during and post-COVID-19 outbreak: the organizational ambidexterity perspective

This study aims to investigate the significance of organizational ambidexterity (OA) in creating supply chain resilience (SCRES) during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The methodological triangulation is applied in this study. A literature review, semi-structured online interviews and insights from open webinars serve as the sources of data. A framework, based on three pillars: validation, positioning and evaluation of business practices, is used for data analysis. The dependencies between OA activities and SCRES strategies are presented. The authors discuss their evolution during and in the post-pandemic period and outline the SCM trends in a strategic perspective. This paper investigates a pathway for closing the gap between OA theory and industry practice to create SCRES during and post-COVID-19 outbreak. This article starts the discussion on creating SCRES through OA. Future quantitative and qualitative research should explore the applicability of OA to enhance SCRES in a dynamic environment. Understanding the critical connection between exploitation and exploration practices and how OA influences SCRES provides valuable insight into the subject to supply chain managers supporting them in pursuing their roles successfully in the times of crisis. This study is focused on two concepts, OA and SCRES, of critical importance for how practitioners manage supply chains in the times of crisis. The resilience of supply chains to crises is crucial for the well-being of societies.