Book talk by Dr Merve Sancak at the University of York Sociology Seminar Series

Dr Merve Sancak gave a book talk titled Global Production, National Institutions, and Skill Formation: The political economy of training and employment in Auto Parts suppliers from Mexico and Turkey at the University of York as part of the York Sociology Seminar Series on 18th May 2022.

‌Merve’s book examines the skill systems in Mexico and Turkey, with a focus on auto parts producers, and the implications of these systems for these countries' development. It adopts a multi-layered understanding of the term 'skill system', which comprises firm-level hiring and training practices as well as the national and global dynamics that influence these practices. Drawing on discussions around globalization and the convergence of economic activity vs. national institutions and divergence, as well as interviews with auto parts producers and stakeholders of the skill systems, the talk examines how the participation of local firms in global supply chains and these firms' institutional environment affect the firm-level skilling practices. It highlights key differences in the role of the state in the skills systems of Mexico and Turkey and investigates the implications of skilling practices for the high/low-road development prospects of both nations.