Niels Beerepoot

I am associate professor in Economic Geography at the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research. In February 2005, I defended my PhD thesis titled "Collective Learning in Small Enterprise Clusters: Skilled Workers, Labour Market Dynamics and Knowledge Accumulation in the Philippine Furniture Industry" at the University of Amsterdam. Since then I held various positions at the University of Amsterdam.

My research interests include: service outsourcing and offshoring, premature deindustrialisation, employability and Future of Work, new middle class formation in the Global South, online freelancing/microwork, impact sourcing and ICT4D. I have conducted extensive empirical research in the Philippines. My current regional focus is on South (India) and Southeast Asia (Philippines). I am the executive editor of Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie (Journal of Economic and Social Geography) and the chair of the Dutch National Committee of the International Geographical Union.

From to 2011 to 2016 I was the project leader of the NWO-WOTRO Integrated-Programme project on understanding the local outcomes of the emergence of the offshore service sector in Mumbai and Manila. This project is a collaboration with researchers from the University of Mumbai and the University of the Philippines and concentrates on the patterns of offshore service sector development in both cities, access to employment and chances for upward labour mobility, the induced and indirect effects and wider social implications in both cities.

Visiting positions

• Durham University (6 months, 2006)
• Tata Institute of Social Science in Mumbai (2.5 months, 2009), funded by NWO-ICSSR Social Science Cooperation Programme India-Netherlands
• University of the Philippines-School of Labour and Industrial Relations in Manila (2 months, 2015), funded by University of the Philippines Visiting Scholar programme.
• Visiting lecturer (2010-2013, 2018) at FHR Lim a Po Institute (Suriname) and the German University of Technology (Oman) for short courses on Globalisation and Regional Development.

Current and recent research projects

Digital freelancing and impact sourcing 
A new form of service outsourcing has rapidly expanded in recent years, namely the digital labour platforms for freelance contractors. Digital labour platforms provide a great opportunity to cut-off intermediaries in global value chains and directly outsource digital work to individuals (contractors) in developing countries. They can bring service outsourcing within the reach of small firms and individuals (as clients and contractors) and lead to a redefinition of work organisation through the formation of virtual teams that consist of individuals from around the world. This research explores how digital labour platforms can be utilised for reaching new groups who fall outside the traditional scope for service outsourcing and whether they can hereby contribute to impact sourcing objectives. 

WOTRO Integrated Programme (2011-2016)
Contemporary globalisation is increasingly referred to as hierarchical integration in a new international division of labour. This project concentrates on contemporary globalisation by means of the international expansion of offshore service delivery. Offshore service delivery is still at an early stage of development and there is limited knowledge on the scope and magnitude of this particular form of globalisation. To what extent this follows different patterns compared to industrial offshoring, with regard to issues such as the embeddedness of production and opportunities for upgrading and upward labour mobility has, so far, not been a subject of in-depth analysis. Furthermore, limited knowledge is available on the enclave-nature of contemporary globalisation and whether it strengthens inequalities between people who benefit from the new economic opportunities and those who are confronted with various forms of exclusion.
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Integration of Indian ICT-ITES companies in the Dutch service outsourcing market (2014, funded by Platform Outsourcing Nederland)
This research focused on the entry strategy and integration of Indian ICT-ITES companies in the Dutch service outsourcing market.  

Union Challenges and Strategies to Engage Contract Workers in Developing Countries (2012-2013, funded by CNV Internationaal)
Based on empirical research in 2 African countries (Senegal and Togo) and 2 Asian countries (Cambodia and Indonesia) this research examined how trade unions can respond to the challenges of dealing with an increasingly flexible and fragmented labour force.

Publications

Peer-reviewed publications

Beerepoot, N. & J. Oprins (2022) Online freelancing and impact sourcing: Examining the inclusive development potential of online service work in the Philippines. In: The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries Vol. 88 (2) https://doi.org/10.1002/isd2.12204  

Kumar, R. & N. Beerepoot (2021). Matching Global Service Standards — The Role of Intermediaries in Economic Upgrading of Support-Service Firms in Global Production Networks. In: Journal of Economic Geography, Vol. 21 (6), pp. 899-923 https://doi.org/10.1093/jeg/lbaa039   

Aalbers, M., N. Beerepoot & M. Gerritsen (2020), Editorial: the geography of the COVID-19 pandemic. In: Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Vol. 11 (3), pp. 201-204 

Kumar, R. & N. Beerepoot (2019) Multipolar governance and social upgrading in the international services value chains:  the case of support-service workers in Mumbai. In: Geoforum, Vol. 104, August 2019, pp. 147-157 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2019.04.023    

D'Cruz, P., E. Noronha, N. Beerepoot, M. Mulder & S. Magala (2019). Changing role of the nation-state and regulation: Workplace bullying legislation in Netherlands. In: The Economic and Labour Relations Review, Vol. 30 (1), pp. 77-98. 

Oprins, J. and N. Beerepoot (2018). Meeting Social Objectives with Offshore Service Work: Evaluating Impact Sourcing in the Philippines. In: Graham, M. (ed.) Digital Economies at Global Margins, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, pp. 249-268.

Lambregts, B., J. Kleibert and N. Beerepoot (2018). Mumbai’s Offshore services sector as a global city maker: a qualitative assessment. In: M. Hoyler, C. Parnreiter and A. Watson (eds.), Global City Makers and Actors in World City Networks. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, pp. 124-150. 

Kumar, R. and N. Beerepoot ( 2017). Altering the social fabric of the working poor? Work and employment issues of support workers catering to international ICT-ITES firms in Mumbai In: Ernesto Noronha and Premilla D’Cruz (eds.) Critical perspectives on work and employment in globalizing India. Springer Publishers, pp. 133-152. 

Beerepoot, N., B. Lambregts and J. Kleibert (eds.) (2017) Globalisation and Services-driven Economic Growth: Perspectives from the Global North and South. London: Routledge, 250 pp., contributors from 11 (European countries). Author of the following chapters: 
-    Lambregts, B., N. Beerepoot and J. Kleibert (2017). Globalisation and services-driven economic growth. pp. 1-18
-    Papadongonas, P. and N. Beerepoot (2017). Beyond call centres: the indirect effects of service sector-driven growth on new middle-class consumption and retail in Mumbai. pp. 208-223. 
-    Beerepoot, N., J. Kleibert and B. Lambregts (2017), Conclusion: trends and ways forward in services-driven economic growth. pp. 224-231.  

Beerepoot, N. and I. Roodheuvel (2016). Internationalisation strategies of emerging market based multinationals: Integration of Indian ICT-ITES companies in the Dutch service outsourcing market. In: European Planning Studies Vol. 24 (7), pp. 1374-1391. DOI:10.1080/09654313.2016.1170107

Beerepoot, N. and B. Lambregts (2016). Competition and wage effects in the global online market for microwork and services outsourcing. In: B. Nicholson, R. Babin and M. Lacity (eds.) Socially responsible outsourcing: global sourcing with global impact. Palgrave MacMillan, pp. 119-137.

Lambregts, B., N. Beerepoot and R. Kloosterman (eds.) (2015) ‘The Local Impact of Globalization in South and Southeast Asia: Offshore business processes in services industries’. London: Routledge. Contributors from 10 (Asian countries). 230 pp. Author of the following chapters: 
-    Lambregts, B., N. Beerepoot and R. Kloosterman (2015). The Local Impact of Services Offshoring in South and Southeast Asia: An Introduction., pp. 1-16.
-    Kloosterman, R., N. Beerepoot and B. Lambregts (2015). Service Sector Driven Development from a Historical Perspective, pp. 17-28.
-    Beerepoot, N. and E. Vogelzang (2015). Service outsourcing to smaller cities in the Philippines: the formation of an emerging local middle class? pp. 195-207.
-    Beerepoot, B. Lambregts and R. Kloosterman (2015) Offshore services and the road to development.  London: Routledge, pp. 208-214.

Beerepoot, N. and C. Keijser (2015). The service outsourcing sector as driver of development: evidence from Ghana’s ICT for Accelerated Development programme. In: TESG Journal of Economic and Social Geography Vol. 106 (5), pp. 556-569, 

Beerepoot, N. and R. Kumar (2015) Upgrading service delivery and employment conditions through indirect insertion in global value chains. In: Competition and Change Vol. 19 (5), pp. 374-389.  

Beerepoot, N. and B. Lambregts (2015). Competition in online job marketplaces: towards a global labour market for service outsourcing? In: Global Networks Vol. 15 (2), pp. 236-255

Marasigan, L. and N. Beerepoot (2015). Examining the influence of offshore service jobs on personal circumstances and employability. In: Philippine Journal of Labour and Industrial Relations, Vol. 35 (1), pp. 159-186.   

Beerepoot, N. (2014). Global convergence in the new international division of labour: the opportunities and challenges of outsourcing and offshoring. In: The Broker
http://www.thebrokeronline.eu/Articles/Creating-a-global-labour-market

Beerepoot, N. & M. Hendriks (2013). Employability of Offshore Service Workers in the Philippines: opportunities for upward labour mobility or dead-end jobs? In: Work, Employment and Society, Vol. 27 (5), pp. 823-841.   

Understanding the current wave in globalisation: the segmented outcomes of offshore service sector development in Mumbai and Manila

Contemporary globalisation is increasingly referred to as hierarchical integration in a new international division of labour, re-inventing and re-inscribing patterns of uneven development. This project concentrates on contemporary globalisation by means of the international expansion of offshore service delivery. Offshore service delivery is still at an early stage of development and there is limited knowledge on the scope and magnitude of this particular form of globalisation. To what extent this follows different patterns compared to industrial offshoring, with regard to issues such as the embeddedness of production and opportunities for upgrading and upward labour mobility has, so far, not been a subject of in-depth analysis. Furthermore, limited knowledge is available on the "enclave-nature" of contemporary globalisation and whether it strengthens inequalities between people who benefit from the new economic opportunities and those who are confronted with various forms of exclusion.
 
India is the leader and main beneficiary of offshore service sector development while the Philippines is recently emerging as a new offshoring destination. Offshore financial services are a relatively new branch in service offshoring and comprise both lower and higher end activities. This research project will analyse the emergence of the offshore financial back-office activities in Mumbai and Manila, and explain its role as a driver of economic and social change, by integrating the following research questions:

1. Which patterns of expansion of the offshore service-sector and transition towards higher value added service activities can be observed in both locations?
2. Which kind of segmentation of the labour force exists in the offshore service-sector and what opportunities are present for upward mobility within this sector?
3. Which role does the offshore service-sector play in middle class formation in both cities and what role does this group have as a driver of economic development?
4. What are the commonalities and differences between the current and previous wave of globalization?
5. How can the offshore service sector act as driver of inclusive development within both cities?

To answer these questions, four PhD researchers (concentrating on questions one-three), one Post-doc researchers (concentrating on question four) and senior researchers from University of Amsterdam-Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research, University of the Philippines-School of Labour and Industrial Relations, and University of Mumbai-Department of Economics collaborate. The project will provide input to discussions on patterns of economic development, based on the outsourcing of services, and their broader impact on the social fabric of emerging economies.