Trade Connections Research Articles

The impact of the railway on the development of Bishkek

This study aimed to conduct a detailed analysis of how the railway has influenced the development of the city of Bishkek. The study employed historical-analytical and geographical methods, analysing archival documents, cartographic materials, and academic publications to ascertain the impact of the railway on Bishkek’s growth. The findings indicated that the construction of the Turkestan-Siberian railway played a pivotal role in shaping the urban structure of Bishkek. The railway facilitated the city’s economic growth, population increase, and industrial development. New residential and industrial areas emerged around railway stations and routes, leading to a significant expansion of the urban territory. Furthermore, the railway enhanced the city’s transport accessibility, fostering trade and interregional connections. The influence of the railway was also evident in the city’s architecture, characterised by the emergence of buildings and structures typical of the railway era. Over time, the role of the railway in urban life has somewhat diminished, yet its historical influence remains significant. The study revealed that the railway contributed not only to economic development but also to cultural changes in Bishkek. The emergence of a railway hub led to increased migration and alterations in the city’s demographic structure, attracting new residents and labour resources. The railway also facilitated the development of infrastructure and public services, such as electrification and water supply, which improved the quality of life in the city. Ultimately, the railway became a crucial factor in integrating Bishkek into regional and international transport networks, enhancing its strategic importance in the region. The railway played an essential role in the establishment and development of Bishkek, exerting a multifaceted influence on its economy, social structure, and urban planning. The historical experience of developing the city’s railway infrastructure can serve as a foundation for planning its future development

Global Traction Battery Cathode Material Industrial Chain Trade Analysis: A Multilayer Modeling Approach.

The fast expansion of the electric vehicle market has led to a significant increase in the demand for traction batteries, an essential element in these vehicles that provide the opportunity to achieve low-carbon and environmentally friendly growth and carbon neutrality. By analyzing the network structure and key trading countries from 2000 to 2021, this research uses multilayer network theory to explore the trade patterns and the evolution of the global cathode material industrial chain of traction batteries. Our findings indicate the following: (1) The industrial networks display multi-core trading country characteristics. Trade connections among the top 20 countries, which account for more than 80% of the global trade volume, have strengthened. (2) Over time, the geographic center of trade has shifted from being primarily focused in Europe, North America, and East Asia to embracing the entire world, including regions such as Africa, South America, and Oceania. (3) In 2021, Australia overtook Japan as the main exporter, which held the top position in 2000. Similarly, China surpassed the United States, which was the top importer in 2000. (4) Changes in global trade relationships have affected the trading habits of the top-ranked countries.

Static Resilience Evolution of the Global Wood Forest Products Trade Network: A Complex Directed Weighted Network Analysis

This paper analyzes the static resilience of global wood forest products trade networks across upstream, midstream, downstream, and recycling sectors using a complex directed weighted network approach. By examining topological features and resilience from 2002 to 2021, this study reveals significant structural evolution and scale expansion in these networks. It finds improvements in network efficiency and resilience, alongside an increase in weighted hierarchy highlighting the prominent roles of core countries like China, the US, and Germany. While these countries bolster network resilience, they also introduce certain vulnerabilities. This study finds notable disassortative mixing without trade volume weights and diversified trends with weights, offering new insights into network dynamics. Core nodes must address disruption risks, enhance diversity, and establish emergency response mechanisms. In the recycling sector, this paper highlights weak trade connections and low resilience, with the US maintaining dominance, China’s influence waning, and India’s rapid ascent. This paper concludes by emphasizing the need for refined indicator systems and deeper explorations into resilience enhancement strategies for operational and targeted suggestions.

Trade Complementarity and Substitutivity between China and Nigeria in Exports: Evidence from the Data in 1996-2022

This study examined the China and Nigeria’s export relations with a view to determining the mutuality of the trade benefits to both countries. Using data for the period 1996 to 2022 from World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS) database, the paper estimated four distinct measures of trade relations (the revealed comparative advantage index, the trade integration index, the complementarity index and the export similarity index) and then analyzed the effect of trade complementarity and substitutivity on exports of Nigeria and China respectively. Based on the findings, China’s top export destination in sub-Saharan Africa is Nigeria, and one of Nigeria’s top export destinations globally is China. Furthermore, the comparative advantage index showed that China has a comparative advantage in manufactured goods, capital goods, consumer goods, intermediate goods, and mechanical and electrical goods, whereas Nigeria has a comparative advantage in fuels and basic materials. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s trade integration index showed that Nigeria’s trade connections to China are weak, while China’s trade integration index showed that its ties to Nigeria are strong. This implies that China depends less on Nigeria’s exports and that Nigeria is more dependent on China’s exports. In addition, Nigeria’s and China’s export structures differed significantly, but it was determined that these trade links are advantageous to both parties and increased their respective export trade. However, the two countries’ trade rivalry will jeopardize their mutual benefits from trade in addition to sharply lowering the volume of their respective exports.

Robust policy frameworks for strengthening the resilience and sustainability of agri-food global value chains

Agri-food global value chains (GVCs) have transformed food production and trade, fostering efficiency and specialization across international borders and also introducing new challenges. This paper synthesizes insights from a special issue focused on agri-food GVCs, addressing four critical areas essential for enhancing the resilience and sustainability of these chains. We explore how trade connections and specialization can drive economic growth, emphasizing the importance of GVC integration. We also examine the role of transportation and infrastructure in ensuring global trade efficiency, highlighting the need for strategic investments to support robust supply chains. Additionally, we assess the impact of trade policies on sustainability, market disruptions, and overall efficiency, underscoring the importance of regulatory frameworks that promote both economic and environmental goals. Finally, we consider the implications of domestic and trade policies on welfare and equity, particularly in developing regions where inclusive growth remains a pressing concern. By identifying these essential areas for robust policy frameworks, this paper provides actionable insights for enhancing the resilience and sustainability of the global food system, which can inform policies that enhance the benefits of agri-food GVC integration while mitigating their risks.

Geopolitical and Economic Impact of the Russian-Ukrainian War on the Chinese Initiative «One Belt, One Road»

The article analyzes the geopolitical and economic impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war on the Chinese initiative «One Belt, One Road» (BRI), which is a key element of Xi Jinping’s foreign policy and is aimed at bringing Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America together through transport networks Through six economic corridors, the BRI initiative develops trade, financial, people-to-people and digital connections around the world. The author has proven that the Russian-Ukrainian war has an unprecedented geopolitical and economic impact on the BRI, which will lead to significant obstacles in the implementation of the initiative’s projects planned by Beijing, as well as to a threat to the security and stability of the countries participating in it. The Russian-Ukrainian war disrupted the ties between the regions that were planned as part of this initiative. In particular, China’s overland connection with Europe via the Northern Route was stopped due to wartime conditions, as most of China’s railway lines pass through Russia. In addition, Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine has damaged China’s political, economic, and infrastructural ties with European countries. The further course of the war may have negative consequences for the development of the BRI initiative. The war in Ukraine poses potential mid- to long-term risks for China’s BRI initiative, as the initiative is largely dependent on land corridors through Russia and Belarus. As a result of the continuation of the Russian-Ukrainian war and Western sanctions against the Russian Federation for a long time, China will have to make more efforts to develop alternative transport and logistics routes, in particular through Iran, Pakistan and Turkey. The creation of enormous pressure on the BRI from the side of NATO and Asia was also the reason for the complication of the implementation and development of the initiative. The armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine in the field of energy caused a sharp increase in the prices of oil, gas and other energy resources, which directly affects the participants of the BRI. The introduction of new economic sanctions and other restrictions against Russia has led to a crisis in global supply chains along the BRI. The emergence of new strategies for energy security and diversification of energy supply sources has significantly affected global energy markets, with significant geopolitical and economic consequences both for China itself and for countries interacting with Europe and Russia.

Spatial network characteristics of carbon balance in urban agglomerations– a case study in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei city agglomeration

The cities within city clusters have strong trade connections, resulting in spatial heterogeneity and correlation of carbon balances. Previous studies have not deeply explored the characteristics of the spatial association network (SAN) of carbon balance in urban agglomerations, particularly regarding network structure, node effects, and spatial-temporal inhomogeneities. This study investigated the spatial network characteristics of carbon balance in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region from 2000 to 2019, employing a modified gravity model and social network analysis (SNA). The findings revealed the following: 1) Carbon emissions increased by 106.42%, and carbon sinks increased by 31.06%, displaying spatial-temporal heterogeneity and forming a multi-level, multi-nodal SAN of carbon balance centered around Beijing. 2) The carbon balance was mainly influenced by spatial spillovers occurring at different nodes, typically moving from lower-tier to higher-tier nodes. 3) Cities assumed four roles: bidirectional spillover, net spillover, primary beneficiary, and agent, with these roles being dynamic. 4) The spatial correlation of carbon balance was primarily influenced by economic development (max 0.602), spatial distance (max 0.331), and per capita ecological land (max 0.445). This approach would refine carbon management policies and deepen the understanding of the SAN and its influencing factors, providing insights for optimizing carbon emission reduction management.

Impact of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict on International Staple Agrifood Trade Networks.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict is a growing concern worldwide and poses serious threats to regional and global food security. Using monthly trade data for maize, rice, and wheat from 2016/1 to 2023/12, this paper constructs three international crop trade networks and an aggregate international food trade network. We aim to examine the structural changes following the occurrence of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. We find significant shifts in the number of edges, average in-degree, density, and efficiency in the third quarter of 2022, particularly in the international wheat trade network. Additionally, we have shown that political reasons have caused more pronounced changes in the trade connections between the economies of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Russia than with Ukraine. This paper could provide insights into the negative impact of geopolitical conflicts on the global food system and encourage a series of effective strategies to mitigate the negative impact of the conflict on global food trade.

Play cards, salt, tobacco: trade restrictions of German Zollverein in 1833

Importance. The main objective of the study is to find the special regulations regarding some trade goods. The research is focused on the comprehensive study of restrictions of German Zollverein’s treaty, which had affected the local and foreign trade. The analysis has formed the complex of reasons which led to the special arrangements towards the important goods. The study of particular aspects of customs reforms shows the new perspectives in the research of this topic and fulfills the image of trade connections on German territories in 1820–30s.Materials and Methods. The main document for the research is “The treaty of customs unification” from March 22, 1833. There are also plenty of commercial press articles of that period studied, which overviewed the trade and customs changes and reforms. The analytics and synthesis methods give the possibility to have a full overview of the mentioned sources and to restore the main tendencies in trade restrictions of this epoch.Results and Discussion. The detailed analysis highlights the most important trade goods on the German area, which were the subjects of interests for many German governments. There were the monopoly goods or the sources of big custom duties, which filled the German treasuries for decades. The threat of losing this income due to established German Zollverein, which customs taxes were supposed to be summarized and parted, led to the compromise solution in regards to some goods. The play cards, salt, tobacco and alcohol production were supposed to stay under cautious control, the trade of them was specially mentioned on the extra conditions.Conclusion. Trade restrictions seemed to be the compromise arrangement in the customs treaty, which aimed to keep the state income safe. They were also based on law differences regarding mentioned goods and supposed to protect German industry from foreign competition.

The global production pattern of the semiconductor industry: an empirical research based on trade network

Semiconductors are an important electronic component and play a central role in many industrial fields, whose production system is spread all over the world, involving trade in many raw materials, mechanical equipment, and finished products. Comprehending a broad global production picture of the semiconductor industry can be an arduous task. To tackle this complexity, the social network analysis method was used to capture the flows of products between economies in the semiconductor industrial chain. This study analyzed the evolution of the trade pattern of four key commodities in the semiconductor industrial chain, with a focus on identifying the status of major economies in the global semiconductor trade system. Additionally, the influencing factors of the formation of the trade networks were explored by using the Exponential Random Graph Model. The results showed that: (1) From 2001 to 2019, the import and export trade pattern of four key commodities in the semiconductor industrial chain has shown the characteristics of “rising in the east and decreasing in the west”, but the change range shows strong commodity heterogeneity, the change of the spatial pattern of integrated circuits trade is the most significant, and the integrated circuits trade proportion of Asian economies has increased hugely with more than 80%. (2) The trade connectivity of various commodities in the semiconductor industrial chain has increased, upstream support products with high technical requirements such as wafers and equipment have the lowest average degree and weak trade liquidity, and the average degree of trade network of packaging materials and integrated circuits is relatively high, with strong trade liquidity and closer and more prosperous trade connections. (3) From 2001 to 2019, the “core-periphery” system of global semiconductor industry trade has changed significantly, with the core circle undergoing obvious iterative reorganization. for example, China and Singapore have achieved status improvement to the core circle in the base materials trade network, while Malaysia has been squeezed into the semi-peripheral circle. (4) The formation of trade networks of various commodities in the semiconductor industrial chain was driven by three aspects: network self-organization, exogenous endowment attribute, and exogenous network embeddedness. Among them, the influence of the technological innovation level of economies on different commodity trade networks showed heterogeneous.

Cilician Amphorae from the Tarsus Zeytin Pazarı Excavation

Rescue excavations were carried out in and around the remains of the Roman reservoir uncovered during the renovation works of the Zeytin Pazarı in the north of the city center of Tarsus. In particular, piles of ceramic sherds were recovered from the fill inside the reservoir remains, and commercial amphorae constitute the most dense group among these finds. Spread over a long period of time during the Roman Period and Late Antiquity, the amphora also includes types from different geographical regions. Among these, amphorae, which were apparently imported from the cities of the Cilicia Region, were categorized. In this way, information was obtained about the regional trade connections of Tarsus in the above-mentioned period. The amphorae, which have been handled with the names commonly accepted in the literature, have been typologically defined and dated by analogy method. Thus, Pompei V and Agora G 198 amphorae from Aigeai were dated to the 1st-2nd centuries AD, Zemer 41 amphorae from Bıçkıcı, Antiochia ad Cragum and Syedra to the 1st-3rd centuries AD and Proto Late Roman 1 amphorae from Elaiussa Sebaste to the second half of the 4th century AD.

A timely helping hand: China‐U.S. Trade War, government subsidy, and firm innovation

AbstractThis paper investigates the impact and mechanism of the China‐U.S. trade war on firm innovation in China exploiting the trade war as a quasi‐natural experiment using firm‐level data from 2015 to 2020. We apply textual analysis to annual reports of listed firms to identify treatment and control groups. Our DID estimates show that while the trade war is a negative shock, it has increased the number of total patent applications, invention patent applications, and non‐invention patent applications by 6.0%, 3.7%, and 4.1%, respectively. We also observe that government subsidies could help firms resist adverse shocks on time with more innovation outcomes. Furthermore, we find the pertinence of government subsidy. The government tended to grant subsidies to firms that have trade connections with the U.S. and firms would use subsidies for R&D to increase innovation. Overall, we find that the trade war prompts the government to increase subsidies for firms, thereby boosting innovation.

The Role of the French Language in facilitating Trade: A Case Study of Maje Border Town Markets

This study explores the role that the French language plays in promoting trade in Maje's marketplaces, a well-known border town. Maje, which is located where cultural and economic exchanges converge, provides an intriguing backdrop for examining the complex relationships that exist between language, trade, and cross-border connections. The research explores the particular ways in which the French language influences business operations, communication patterns, and market dynamics in Maje through the use of a case study technique enhanced by anthropological inquiry. The study looks at how common French is among dealers, clients, and other stakeholders as a lingua franca through observations, interviews, and linguistic studies. The study looks into the various ways that the French language is used in the marketplace to facilitate cross-cultural interactions, negotiate agreements, and mediate transactions. It examines the linguistic tactics used by market players, such as code-switching, language accommodation, and cultural adaptation, to take capitalize on French proficiency for business benefit. The study also assesses the effects of fluency in French on competitive advantage, market segmentation, and market integration. It takes into account how linguistic asymmetries and impediments may affect a variety of stakeholders' access to markets, ability to establish trust, and economic prospects. Our understanding of the socio-economic dynamics driving cross-border commerce is enhanced by this study's illumination of the complex interactions between language and trade in border town markets. In border regions where the French language is significant, the findings offer insightful information to policymakers, market participants, and language planners who aim to encourage inclusive economic development and cross-cultural understanding. Keywords: French language, Trade promotion, Linguistic tactics, Market dynamics, Cross-cultural interactions, Competitive advantage

The impact of European Cohesion Policy: a spatial perspective

Abstract Cohesion Policy is one of the core policy areas of the European Union and one of the largest expenditure items in its budget. Its impact is the subject of intense academic and policy debate, but its effectiveness is an empirical question still open. This article contributes to this debate by performing a region-specific investigation of the direct and indirect impact of Structural Funds expenditure. We employ a heterogeneous panel data model, which accommodates the spatial dependence in a heterogeneous setting and measures heterogeneous spatial spillover effects, both inward and outward. We also consider different channels of spatial spillovers with respect to standard geographical closeness. In particular, the introduction of new measures of proximity that explicitly consider economic linkages between regions is a novel contribution to the literature. The results clearly indicate that the impact of the Cohesion Policy, while positive overall, is highly heterogeneous and the Structural Funds expenditure generates substantial heterogeneous spatial spillovers: the positive effects do not remain confined to the target regions. Finally, strong spillover effects are channelled by value-added trade connections, particularly in regions belonging to the so-called ‘Central European Manufacturing Core’.

Social Organization, Intersections, and Interactions in Bronze Age Sardinia. Reading Settlement Patterns in the Area of Sarrala with the Contribution of Applied Sciences

Abstract Bronze Age sites in the coastal area of Sarrala, in Eastern Sardinia, have been subjected to survey and excavation over the last half-century. The study area, whose social and economic evolution and changing scales of interactions are traced through settlement patterns and building analysis, is interpreted in light of more general trends suggested by stable isotopes, archaeogenetics, and paleoclimatology. The local picture of progressive demographic growth and infilling of the landscape, with a subsequent concentration of population and labor, follows a sequence widely detected in Sardinia. More specific identifiable aspects include a comparatively higher fragmentation/competition (ratio of complex vs simple nuraghes; ratio of tombs vs nuraghes) and a consistent pattern in the distribution of non-local building materials in the latest phase at the sites showing archaic features, taken as a clue of a long-lasting authority at select sites. These elements are compatible with organized pastoral exploitation of the available territory, structured according to patrilocality and closeness to ancestral lineages and residences. The interplay of internal dynamics relative to constraints and opportunities is discussed, such as climate change and long-distance trade connections, with possible implications for interpreting Nuragic society.

Unpacking the Global Rice Trade Network: Centrality, Structural Holes, and the Nexus of Food Insecurity.

The challenging international landscape and exacerbated extreme weather conditions contribute to the instability of global grain trade, complicating its impact on food security. This complexity is particularly pronounced for varieties like rice, which are heavily affected by policy-driven trade restrictions. There is insufficient research on how a country's rice trade characteristics affect food security. A network analysis approach is adopted to intricately dissect the structural characteristics of rice trade. To explore causality with food insecurity, this paper chooses structural holes and centrality as representatives of trade network characteristics and regresses them on the food insecurity indicator. With cross-national data spanning over 30 years, the network analysis provides a clear portrayal of the dynamic changes in international rice trade. The overall resilience of the trade network has increased, but specific countries' vulnerability has also risen. Unlike the changing trends in features observed in grain and food trade networks, there is a notable intensification in the imbalance of power distribution in the rice trade network compared to over 30 years ago. The panel data regression results show that constraint, indicating the scarcity of structural holes or connections to stronger trading partners, significantly and positively influences a country's level of food insecurity. Based on these findings, the policy proposal for importing countries emphasizes creating strategic trade connections. By choosing appropriate trade partners that reduce constraint, food security can be enhanced, even without improvements in other conditions.

An overlooked poultry trade network of the smallholder farms in the border provinces of Thailand, 2021: implications for avian influenza surveillance.

In Thailand, community-level poultry trade is conducted on a small-scale involving farmers and traders with many trade networks. Understanding the poultry movements may help identify different activities that farmers and traders might contribute to the spread of avian influenza. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of players involved in the poultry trade network at the northeastern border of Thailand using network analysis approaches. Mukdahan and Nakhon Phanom provinces, which border Laos, and Ubon Ratchathani province, which borders both Laos and Cambodia, were selected as survey sites. Local veterinary officers identified and interviewed 338 poultry farmers and eight poultry traders in 2021. A weighted directed network identified incoming and outgoing movements of where the subdistricts traded chickens. Ninety-nine subdistricts and 181 trade links were captured. A self-looping (trader and consumer in the same subdistrict) feedback was found in 56 of 99 subdistricts. The median distance of the movements was 14.02 km (interquartile range (IQR): 6.04-102.74 km), with a maximum of 823.08 km. Most subdistricts in the network had few poultry trade connections, with a median of 1. They typically connected to 1-5 other subdistricts, most often receiving poultry from 1 to 2.5 subdistricts, and sending to 1-2 subdistricts. The subdistricts with the highest overall and in-degree centrality were located in Mukdahan province, whereas one with the highest out-degree centrality was found in Nakhon Phanom province. The poultry movement pattern observed in this network helps explain how avian influenza could spread over the networks once introduced.

Competitiveness of Vietnam tuna export industry in the European market

Export competitiveness is a relatively late research topic, but there has been a rapid increase in the number of studies in the last three decades. To date, this topic is not only a concern of researchers but also businesses, manufacturing industries, and countries, especially policymakers. In this study, we evaluate Vietnam's tuna export competitiveness in the European market through industry competitiveness indicators, including manifest comparative advantage (RCA), export market share (MS), and export price. In addition, the gravity model is used to determine the factors determining the competitiveness of Vietnam's tuna export industry in this market. The research results show that the competitiveness of Vietnamese tuna in the European market is quite high and tends to increase but is still much weaker than leading competitors such as Thailand, Ecuador, and Spain. The deciding factor for competitiveness is the large amount of domestically exploited tuna. Although the product quality is still low compared to major competitors in the market, it has improved rapidly in recent years. In addition, the suitability of tuna products exported from Vietnam to the import market and exchange rate fluctuations favorable to exports are other competitive advantages, among them, the exchange rate is the biggest decisive role. On the contrary, import taxes are the biggest barrier that reduces competitiveness in this market. To improve competitiveness and move towards sustainable development of the tuna export industry, Vietnam needs to make great efforts, especially strictly controlling domestic tuna resources, avoiding overexploitation, and focusing on improving high product quality. Furthermore, Vietnam needs to focus on meeting the commitment conditions in signed free trade agreements, actively research the market, focus on trade promotion policies, and strengthen trade connections with other import countries.

Fair Trade Connections: Exploring relationality, decoloniality and future directions of a hybrid movement

Fair Trade Connections: Exploring relationality, decoloniality and future directions of a hybrid movement

How does digital payment affect international trade? Research based on the social network analysis method

<abstract> <p>Digital payment is one of the latest trendsin modern payment systems; its development has a profound impact on international trade relations and the international trade status of countries. We constructed an international trade network by using global commodity trade data to measure countries' international trade status. Based on this, we used panel data from 25 countries for the period between 2012 and 2020 and employed a fixed-effect model to test the relationship between digital payment and international trade status. Empirical results show that, first, the development of digital payment can effectively enhance a country's international trade status. Second, digital payment strengthens international trade connections by lowering barriers to cross-border capital flows, thereby improving a country's international trade status. Third, the effect of digital payment on enhancing international trade status varies across countries with different degrees of trade openness. The findings of this study provide theoretical support for the development of digital payment and international trade.</p> </abstract>