Evolutionary characteristics of export trade network in the Arctic region

MA Xing; QIANG Wenli; WANG Shijin; LIU Jiayi; Arunima MALIK; LI Mengyu; WANG Xiang

doi:10.1016/j.regsus.2024.100176

Regional Sustainability >

2024 , Vol. 5 >Issue 4: 100176

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.regsus.2024.100176

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Evolutionary characteristics of export trade network in the Arctic region

MA Xing ,
QIANG Wenli ,
WANG Shijin ,
LIU Jiayi ,
Arunima MALIK ,
LI Mengyu ,
WANG Xiang

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^aCollege of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
^bYulong Snow Mountain Cryosphere and Sustainable Development Field Science Observation and Research Station, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
^cSchool of Physics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006, Australia
^dIntegrated Sustainability Analysis, School of Physics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006, Australia
^eCollege of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730000, China

^*E-mail address: qiangwl@lzu.edu.cn (QIANG Wenli).

Received date: 2023-12-30

Revised date: 2024-07-16

Accepted date: 2024-11-25

Online published: 2024-12-19

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Abstract

The economic potential induced by environmental changes in the Arctic region garnered substantial interest, which positions Arctic trade as a crucial indicator in forecasting the impacts of climate change on the global economy. Nevertheless, attention devoted to the evolving dynamics of trade in the Arctic region remains scarce. In this study, we constructed export trade network in the Arctic region (including Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, the Canadian Arctic, the Russian Arctic, Alaska State of the USA, and Greenland) from 1990 to 2019 and analyzed its topology and evolutionary characteristics through complex network theory. We used a structural entropy index based on the distribution of the number of trading partners and the degree of trade concentration to assess export diversity, while we also utilized a revealed comparative advantage index to evaluate product export competitiveness using the share of trade volume of each type of product. The results indicate that the total export trade in the Arctic region increased by 53.4% during 1990-2019, with the most significant growth observed in the exports of chemical products and mineral fuels. The increasing complexity of trade network in the Arctic region resulted in the region’s export destinations no longer being concentrated on a few major countries and regions. The proportion of exports from the Arctic region to Europe decreased by 13.5%, while the proportion of exports from the Arctic region to Asia and North America increased by 6.8% and 3.1%, respectively. The Arctic region exhibited clear distinctions in the range of flows of different products, and its export trade was becoming increasingly diversified. Although differences in comparative advantages between products within individual countries or regions have narrowed, substantial gaps persist. The findings of this study can enhance the comprehensive understanding of the significance and function of Arctic trade activities within the global economy, providing a scientific basis for addressing the associated challenges and opportunities in the context of climate change.

Key words： Trade network; Structural entropy index; Revealed comparative advantage (RCA); Global economy; Climate change; Arctic region

Cite this article

MA Xing , QIANG Wenli , WANG Shijin , LIU Jiayi , Arunima MALIK , LI Mengyu , WANG Xiang . Evolutionary characteristics of export trade network in the Arctic region[J]. Regional Sustainability, 2024 , 5(4) : 100176 . DOI: 10.1016/j.regsus.2024.100176

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