Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2015

Abstract

The topology of the worldwide network of reciprocal trade agreements is evolving in ways that defy conventional wisdom. It is at odds with the triad hypothesis, that is, a view of the world consisting of three mutually isolated major blocs, structured in a hub and spoke fashion - Americas with US as the hub, Europe with European Union as the hub and Asia with Japan as the hub. Moreover, many new agreements, traditionally called ‘regional’, are actually inter-regional. In order to make sense of these developments, we charted the evolution of the network using social network analysis and arrived at a new perspective on its topology.

Version

The article available for download here is the pre-print version. Locate the version of record using the DOI below.

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.18374/JIBE-15-1.6

Publication Title

Journal of International Business and Economics

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