Brown Bag Seminar: Maritime Connectivity and International Trade: Distance in a Globalized World

Abstract

This paper provides a novel theoretical and empirical discussion on observed spatial patterns in global traderelations. The argument of this paper is that a state’s access to international sea routes is an importantdeterminant of a state’s ability to conduct global economic relations. Building off new ideas of transportationin the field of geography, this paper presents a discussion of how we should think about the distance betweenstates in a globalized world. I use new data from the United Nations Commission on Trade and Developmentto understand a state’s connectivity in global maritime pathways. Using this data, I discuss how global traderelations suffer from structurally determined spatial biases. Past research has already discussed the presenceof spatial patterns in trade data, but research has yet to theoretically examine why these patterns exist andlook the way they do in modern relations. I show that trade through maritime activity create violations of IIDassumptions in many models and can lead to spatial biases in understanding global economic activity.Following this, I use spatial modeling techniques to account for these biases and discuss how the maritimeindustry creates important geographic connections between states. These connections should be thought ofin similar ways to how economic geography scholars view distance. Given the temporal variation in theseconnections and the possibility of them being influenced by domestic and international institutions, IPEscholars are well suited to study how the maritime industry connects states. By understanding thedeterminants of spatial patterns, scholars can theorize about how these patterns manifest in differentcircumstances and affect different state’s abilities to trade and engage in other interstate activities.

To join the seminar virtually, please use this link.
Meeting ID: 869 1770 1444
Passcode: 823706

Linked below are the official invitation as well as a working paper by the speaker, which you are welcome to read before the seminar.