Abstract
Assortativity, one of the mixing patterns of complex networks, is characterized by measuring whether the nodes are preferentially connected to the nodes with a similar scale. While numerous studies have examined the assortative characteristics of various real-world networks, few studies have attempted to analyze the assortativity of networks in which the subject of trade is bulk. The novelty of this research is that, for the first time, the assortative coefficient method in physics is introduced into the bulk trade network, and the Automatic Identification System (AIS) data is used to explore the assortative mixing characteristics of the network. From the perspective of multi-scale (port and country) and multi-dimensional (node, link, and network) structure, this paper reveals the tendency of trade connection and explores the trade rules of bulk in networks. The results show that: (1) The trade network of bulk on the Maritime Silk Road is assortative. With the increase of spatial scale, the extent of assortativity is also gradually increasing; (2) In the bulk network of ports, trade cooperation shows the rule of distance attenuation; In the national bulk network, it shows the rule of preferential connection; (3) Ports with high out-degree will export bulk to the ports with high out-degree with broad market, while countries with high out-degree export to high in-degree countries with strong demand. The present study is expected to provide valuable references for port planning, national formulation of scientific bulk trade strategy, and promotion of coordinated development of bulk trade network along the Maritime Silk Road.
Highlights
The Maritime Silk Road involves a wide scope of regions, a more complex geopolitical environment, and different levels of economic development
According to the description of its coverage area in the vision and proposed actions outlined on jointly building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, combined with the administrative divisions where the port is located and the spatial scope of the Maritime Silk Road studied by most scholars, the research area is divided into seven regions, namely Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania, including 62 countries and regions, 919 bulk ports
Extending the research of assortativity to the field of bulk trade network along the Maritime Silk Road, based on large-scale Automatic Identification System (AIS) trajectory data, by using the assortative coefficient method, the paper considers the correlation of four degree directions [41]: in-in correlation, in-out correlation, out-in correlation and out-out correlation, expressed as ρ(in, in) ρ(in, out) ρ(out, in) ρ(out, out), to measure the relevance of the two nodes connected by the directed edge in the degree of out or in to accurately explore the trade rules of bulk
Summary
The Maritime Silk Road involves a wide scope of regions, a more complex geopolitical environment, and different levels of economic development. The trade relations between ports and countries along the road play an important role in the development of the Maritime Silk Road, the reduction of bilateral conflicts, and the promotion of regional division of labor and common prosperity. With the rapid development of economic globalization and information technology, the scale of international maritime trade is expanding. The sensor has covered many navigation areas of ports and countries all over the world, and its coverage is expanding. It is characterized of good real-time performance, high accuracy, fine time granularity, data balance (including large and small port data), etc. It is characterized of good real-time performance, high accuracy, fine time granularity, data balance (including large and small port data), etc. [4], which can reflect the trade links in the network, support the dynamic analysis and modeling of global maritime network, and help to strengthen maritime and trade management
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