Globalization – it’s almost impossible to go a day without hearing about it. It’s been a long time since a single word (at least in economics) has earned such credit and scorn. Globalization hollows out the middle class and degrades the environment in developing countries. the benefits of globalization lifts millions from abject poverty. Globalization brings Dread Zepplin, Spinal Tap, and the Rutles together for Middle Class Aid concert in Gary, Indiana. Okay, maybe not the last one, but just about anything good or bad that happens in the world somehow tracks back to globalization.
Academics might argue that human civilization has been marching toward globalization since its inception. Cross-cultural trade, migrations, invasions, colonization, etc. have been occurring for millennia, but the word as we use it today has more recent origins. Specifically in the Bretton Woods Conference. Meeting after WW2 in idyllic New Hampshire delegates from the 44 allied nations established the financial order of our world. Their rules encouraged open markets and free trade. They laid the groundwork for economic globalization.
Today’s Map
As usual I’ve gotten a bit side-tracked with my introduction to this week’s map. Courtesy of the CIA Factbook the map features each country’s most valuable export. I suppose there might be better ways to illustrate globalization, but this map reveals a few interesting surprises. Perhaps it’s just the Juan Valdez coffee commercials in my brain, but I didn’t know that Columbia’s leading export was petroleum or Brazil’s transportation equipment. I guess there are more than a few Embraer jets out there. Instead the horn of Africa leads in caffeinated exports. Sadly, Afghanistan’s leading export remains opium. Less surprising is east Asia’s strength in electronics or that oil and petroleum dominate so many countries’ exports.
What are your thoughts? Did any of these surprise you?
As always thanks for reading.
Armen
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Note to pay the bills: While the Warders series isn’t about exports and trade, it does feature illicit trade syndicates (pirates), night merchants (thieves), and shops serving as fronts for spies. If you’re interested in a James Bond-like thriller set in a high fantasy world, then, check out a summary of the series here or find links to purchase books here.
I didn’t know that Canada’s main export was motor vehicles….I’m thinking it must be something other than automobiles, right? Are there any well known Canadian automakers? (If that’s a totally ignorant question, I apologize!). When I think of Canada I think of maple products, hardwood (maybe furniture?), grain and beer.
Armen, this is a pretty interesting map!
Amy, there are quite a few auto plants in Canada – especially in Ontario. The companies aren’t Canadian owned. I know that GM has (or had) a lot of plants in Canada. I think they produce both parts for the US and full cars for export. I’m glad you like the map. As for grain, beer, and other natural products, Canada exports a lot of them too, but on a monetary basis it’s hard to beat manufactured goods.
What a great map. I’m going to sent it to my granddaughter so she can show it to her teacher. Might be worth an extra grade. In my own effort to hone in on the conditions of a certain farm in 1850, globalization is about as far from my mind as one could get, but I like it. Keep finding those interesting maps.
I’m glad you liked it, Rick. As for continuing to post interesting maps, that is my plan. Of course what interests me may bore the pants off a normal person.