Assignment 1: Contemporary Trends Assignment 1: Contemporary Trends in the Structure of Canada’s in the Structure of Canada’s

International TradeInternational Trade

GEOG 2210: Spatial Organization of Economic ActivityGEOG 2210: Spatial Organization of Economic ActivityPresented: October 4, 2005Presented: October 4, 2005

SummarySummary

Goals of the Assignment:Goals of the Assignment: to expose you to three techniques in the to expose you to three techniques in the

geographer’s ‘toolbox’: data capture, data geographer’s ‘toolbox’: data capture, data manipulation and graphic presentation, and data manipulation and graphic presentation, and data analysisanalysis

to examine trends in Canada’s International trade to examine trends in Canada’s International trade (and compare Canada’s trade to that of the U.S., as (and compare Canada’s trade to that of the U.S., as portrayed in your course textbook)portrayed in your course textbook)

Important DetailsImportant Details

Value: 20%Value: 20% Scope: 1000 words + figuresScope: 1000 words + figures Due: Due: ThursdayThursday, October 20, 2005, October 20, 2005

Source of help:Source of help:

Teaching Assistant: Faye NelsonTeaching Assistant: Faye Nelson Contact information:Contact information:

Office: A518Office: A518 E-mail: E-mail: nelsfe@uleth.canelsfe@uleth.ca | Phone: 332-5201 | Phone: 332-5201 Office hours: October 12-20, Monday-Friday, Office hours: October 12-20, Monday-Friday,

10am-12pm or by appointment 10am-12pm or by appointment

PHASE I: DATA CAPTUREPHASE I: DATA CAPTURE

1.

2.

3.

E-StatE-Stat

4.

5.

6.

CansimCansim

7.

8.9.

10.11.

Search on ‘exports’…

Table 228-0003Table 228-0003

12.

Subset selectionSubset selection

13. Select Balance of payments14. Select major commodity groups 1-5 – both imports and exports15. Time series: 1971-2004.

Output: CSV file, time as columnsOutput: CSV file, time as columns

SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!

Phase II: MS ExcelPhase II: MS Excel Seven graphsSeven graphs

Canada’s overall merchandise trade, 1971-2004Canada’s overall merchandise trade, 1971-2004 Variables: Value over timeVariables: Value over time Series: Total Imports, Total Exports and Trade BalanceSeries: Total Imports, Total Exports and Trade Balance

Canada’s trade structure in 1971 and in 2004Canada’s trade structure in 1971 and in 2004(2 graphs)(2 graphs)

Variables: Value, grouped by commodity groupVariables: Value, grouped by commodity group Series: Imports, Exports, BalanceSeries: Imports, Exports, Balance

Canadian trade in … (4 graphs)Canadian trade in … (4 graphs) Variables: Value of commodity group trade over timeVariables: Value of commodity group trade over time Series: Imports, Exports, BalanceSeries: Imports, Exports, Balance

- Need to download additional data!

1. Overall merchandise trade1. Overall merchandise trade

2004

Calculating Total Imports & Total ExportsCalculating Total Imports & Total Exports

Insert rows

Calculate values

Trade balance = Total Exports – Total Trade balance = Total Exports – Total ImportsImports

Chart Wizard step 1Chart Wizard step 1

1.1. Select the data Select the data series series (spreadsheet (spreadsheet values that values that are used in the are used in the chart).chart).

2.2. Click on the Click on the Chart Wizard Chart Wizard button.button.

3.3. Select the type Select the type of chart (e.g. of chart (e.g. Line).Line).

4.4. Click on Next.Click on Next.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Chart Wizard step 2Chart Wizard step 2

Chart Wizard step 3Chart Wizard step 3

Label axes!

Combined chartsCombined charts

Highlight Highlight trade trade balance balance series by series by right right clicking on clicking on itit

Chart type Chart type > Column> Column

Formatting plot areaFormatting plot area

The grey plot area is The grey plot area is unnecessary…unnecessary…

Right click on plot Right click on plot areaarea

Select Format Plot Select Format Plot AreaArea

Area: none Area: none

2. Commodity structure2. Commodity structure

Create new Create new spreadsheet spreadsheet arrangementarrangement

Highlight cellsHighlight cells Click on Chart Click on Chart

Wizard…Wizard…

3. Commodity groups3. Commodity groups

Go back and retrieve Imports and Exports data from Go back and retrieve Imports and Exports data from E-Stat onE-Stat on Live animalsLive animals Aircraft engines, assemblies and partsAircraft engines, assemblies and parts Passenger automobiles and chassisPassenger automobiles and chassis Trucks and other motor vehiclesTrucks and other motor vehicles Farm machinery, incl tractorsFarm machinery, incl tractors

Rearrange spreadsheet, calculate balances, create line Rearrange spreadsheet, calculate balances, create line graphs (with trade balance as column-type bar graph)graphs (with trade balance as column-type bar graph)……

Road vehicles

PHASE III: DATA ANALYSISPHASE III: DATA ANALYSIS

Three questions (Note: #2 has three parts)Three questions (Note: #2 has three parts) In order to answer the questions you will In order to answer the questions you will

need…need… All seven graphs from Phase IIAll seven graphs from Phase II Your textbookYour textbook Possibly some further background information Possibly some further background information

(e.g. relevant and (e.g. relevant and reliablereliable web sites) web sites)

QuestionsQuestions 1. Using your text book’s account of the U.S. trade deficit as a 1. Using your text book’s account of the U.S. trade deficit as a

starting point, describe Canada’s overall balance of trade over starting point, describe Canada’s overall balance of trade over this same period.this same period.

2. Describe Canada’s changing commodity structure in 2. Describe Canada’s changing commodity structure in

relation to that of the U.S..relation to that of the U.S..In which commodities does Canada seem to have greater In which commodities does Canada seem to have greater reliance as an exporter and in which commodities is Canada a reliance as an exporter and in which commodities is Canada a larger importer?larger importer?Do these broad patterns seem consistent with your Do these broad patterns seem consistent with your expectations under the theory of expectations under the theory of Comparative AdvantageComparative Advantage and the and the Heckscher-OhlinHeckscher-Ohlin theory? theory?

3. Describe the principal trends for each of the four 3. Describe the principal trends for each of the four commodity groups graphed in Phase II(3). What are the main commodity groups graphed in Phase II(3). What are the main factors influencing these trends?factors influencing these trends?

Tips on earning an “A”Tips on earning an “A”

““Mechanics” of an “A” assignment:Mechanics” of an “A” assignment: Graphs are complete (show required Graphs are complete (show required

relationships) and easy to read. Variables are relationships) and easy to read. Variables are labeled (incl. units). Legends are brief.labeled (incl. units). Legends are brief.

All graphs are referred to in the text of the All graphs are referred to in the text of the assignment (e.g. …an upward trend (Fig.1).)assignment (e.g. …an upward trend (Fig.1).)

Graphs have brief captions and the source of Graphs have brief captions and the source of the data is referenced (e.g. Source: Statistics the data is referenced (e.g. Source: Statistics Canada, 2005; Cansim Table 228-0003). Canada, 2005; Cansim Table 228-0003).

Tips on earning an “A”, Tips on earning an “A”, continued.continued.

Questions are answered in complete sentences Questions are answered in complete sentences with no spelling or grammar mistakes. with no spelling or grammar mistakes. Thoughts/data that are not your own are Thoughts/data that are not your own are referenced.referenced.

10001000 words words See: See: http://http://

people.uleth.ca/~maclachlan/General/Style_Gpeople.uleth.ca/~maclachlan/General/Style_Guide.htmuide.htm

Tips on earning an “A”, Tips on earning an “A”, continued.continued.

““Quality of thought”Quality of thought” Thoroughly analyze your graphs (trends, Thoroughly analyze your graphs (trends,

changes in value)changes in value) Incorporate information from course textbook Incorporate information from course textbook

and other sources where necessary (remember and other sources where necessary (remember to cite sources) but also demonstrate your own to cite sources) but also demonstrate your own thinking!thinking!

Compare/contrastCompare/contrast

Source of help:Source of help:

Teaching Assistant: Faye NelsonTeaching Assistant: Faye Nelson Contact information:Contact information:

Office: A518Office: A518 E-mail: E-mail: nelsfe@uleth.canelsfe@uleth.ca | Phone: 332-5201 | Phone: 332-5201 Office hours: October 12-20, Monday-Friday, Office hours: October 12-20, Monday-Friday,

10am-12pm or by appointment 10am-12pm or by appointment