One feature of the world economy is the persistent and large scale of trade imbalances. Some countries have huge surpluses and others experience deficits every year. Trade imbalances are one factor behind the resurgence of ‘protectionist’ sentiment and they have consequences for growth, jobs and living standards. I have put together a collection of twenty of the trade data charts that I use regularly in teaching A2 and AS macro - I hope they might be useful for some colleagues when covering trade and balance of payments topics.

The charts include:

World trade
Quarterly value of world trade
The UK Current Account
UK trade in goods and services
UK and USA current account as % of GDP
US trade deficit
US trade balances with selected regions
US trade in goods and services
Annual growth of Chinese exports
US Trade with China
China Balance of Trade in Goods and Services
China’s foreign exchange reserves
China’s Net Foreign Assets
Japanese exports and imports of goods
Russian exports of oil and gas
Russian Trade and Current Account
Trade balances for selected EU countries
Dollar value of African trade
Trade for Oil Exporting Countries
Value of Trade for Developing Countries

Presentation to download

Trade_Balances_around_the_World.ppt