Network Analysis of World Trade using the BACI-CEPII Dataset

Abstract

In this paper we explore the BACI-CEPII database using Network Analysis. From the visualization of the World Trade Network, we define and describe its topology, both in its binary version and in its weighted version, by calculating and discussing a number of the commonly used network statistics. We finally discuss various specific topics that can be studied with Network Analysis and International Trade data, both at the aggregated and at the sectorial level. The analysis is carried out with multiple software (Stata, R and Pajek). The scripts to replicate part of the analysis are included in the appendix and can be used as a hands-on tutorial. Moreover, local and global centrality measures, based on the unweighted and the weighted version of the aggregated World Trade Network, have been calculated for each country (178 in total) and each year (from 1995 to 2010) and can be downloaded from the CEPII webpage.