A Geospatial Analysis of China's Exports, 1991-2008

Three Taiwan-based economists employ a range of exploratory spatial data analysis tools (e.g., Moran's I and LISA statistics) to investigate trends in the growth of China's exports over the period 1991-2008. A particular focus is on the detection of spatial correlations between China and 40 export destination countries in major world regions. Emphasis in the paper on the key years of 1991, 2001, 2006, and 2008 has enabled the authors to analyze the impacts on China's trade of such major events as the country's accession to the World Trade Organization and the global economic crisis of 2008-2009. The results of the spatial analysis reveal the continuing importance of the U. S. and Asian countries in China's export trade (despite changes in the character of trade relations) and identify the spatial outliers (e. g., in Latin America) that may serve as the basis for new export markets for China in the future. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: F100, F140, O530, P330. 2 tables, 5 figures, 50 references.