Informal power structures behave differently in Latin America from the rest of the world. Firms’ directors tend to create informal mechanisms for control and influence, establishing ties with other companies by sitting on their boards. These corporate connections are called Interlocking Directorates (IDs). This study is focused on the analysis of the Peruvian corporate network of IDs, and its evolution during 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015. The sample includes 5,591 board seats, 2,689 directors, and 298 different firms distributed over the four periods mentioned. The study uses social network analysis to get the main structure and characteristics of the Peruvian corporate network over time. Main findings suggest the existence of an evolving Peruvian corporate network of large firms connected through IDs. In addition, the research results provide evidence that this Peruvian corporate network of IDs would be resilient to global economic crises, while being more sensitive to local political crises. Insights on how power structures in emerging economies could be affected by international affairs are discussed.

The purpose of this paper is to map and assess the conceptual development of the literature on the relationship between innovation and performance in emerging countries (EMES). A bibliometric analysis was performed using RStudio, Biliometrix and Biblioshiny packages to accomplish it. It was assessed 756 articles published between 1996 and 2023 in the Web of Science and Scopus databases. The main findings are that research on innovation and performance in EMES has two main theoretical foundations that stand out: the resource-based-view and dynamic capabilities, the absorptive capacity and knowledge-based theory, and a third strand relative to the institutional view. These reinforce the necessity, in EMES, to develop their resources and capabilities to get a better performance, the firm’s capacity to absorb external knowledge and commercialize this knowledge to have a greater performance in EMEs and its complexity and the importance of this institutional framework to improve the innovation and performance of companies in these economies. A framework was developed from these results to help the evolution of the concepts and applicability in future research.

Emerging market manufacturers (EMMs), typically positioned at the lower end of global value chains (GVCs), confront numerous challenges, including how to address environmental degradation and social instability. In response to environmental issues, such as biodiversity loss, clean water scarcity, and air and soil pollution, EMMs must navigate a complex landscape where economic viability intersects with environmental responsibility. In this study, we explore how EMMs gradually upgrade their GVC position to capture greater value and enhance competitiveness. Using a recursive approach to theorizing temporal processes, we propose a framework that integrates economic, social, and environmental dimensions, portraying GVC upgrading as a three-step cyclical process. We suggest that within GVCs, EMMs begin by refining their products and processes to raise value creation and appropriation. Subsequently, they adapt flexibility to perform either upstream or downstream functions, ultimately transferring their capabilities and knowledge to another node within the value chain to forge extended connections. We also explore the expected outcomes and challenges EMMs face at each stage. By illuminating the dynamic interplay among several dimensions, we aim to advance conceptualizations of EMMs’ GVC upgrading processes and offer insights for policymakers and practitioners in developing countries to foster sustainable development within GVCs.