ABSTRACT
This chapter systematically reviews and critiques the core concepts and relevant research literature involved in the study. First, it defines the economic connotations of key concepts such as digital trade, digital penetration rate, and global value chain (GVC) digitalization, establishing the research stance from a broad-scope perspective of digital trade. Second, the literature is reviewed from four aspects: (1) theories of the digital economy, covering its definition, measurement, and economic effects; (2) the measurement, influencing factors, and economic effects of GVC digitalization; (3) the measurement and influencing factors of high-quality manufacturing development; and (4) research on the relationship between GVC digitalization and manufacturing development. The review reveals that while existing research is fruitful, there remain shortcomings: Studies integrating digital trade and GVC theory are still nascent, lacking a unified framework for measuring GVC digitalization; furthermore, exploration into the overall impact of GVC digitalization on high-quality manufacturing development and its heterogeneous mechanisms across different dimensions requires further depth. This chapter's review clarifies the theoretical starting point, research gaps, and directions for innovation in this study, providing a solid literature foundation for subsequent theoretical construction and empirical analysis.
