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Temporal Characteristics and Spatial Homogeneity of Virtual Water Trade: A Complex Network Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Xinghua Fan

    (Jiangsu University)

  • Xuxia Li

    (Jiangsu University)

  • Jiuli Yin

    (Jiangsu University)

  • Jiaochen Liang

    (California State University)

Abstract

International trade of commodities causes an international water flow in virtual form. This study focuses on the virtual water flow related to international crop trade. We build complex networks of virtual water trade (Virtual Water Trade Networks, VWTNs hereafter) with annual data of trade and its virtual water content from 1986 to 2013 among all countries. By analyzing the temporal characteristics and spatial homogeneity of the VWTNs, we find that trade networks display a feature of scale-free. This suggests those core export and import countries play dominant roles in international virtual water flows. However, the structure of the VWTN becomes more heterogeneous with time, indicating that virtual water trade has been getting more globalized. By spatially recoding the trade volumes and using detrended fluctuation analysis, this study finds that geographical distance becomes less binding in international virtual water trades. Other important findings from our VWTNs analysis include that virtual water trade patterns remain relative stable within trading groups and that geopolitical, political, and economic environments can significantly influence world virtual water trade flows. This study provides an understanding of the international water trade and its relationship with the macro social and economical conditions at the global scale. Its method thus can be applied to analyze the temporal and spatial dynamics of other networks with directed trade flow.

Suggested Citation

  • Xinghua Fan & Xuxia Li & Jiuli Yin & Jiaochen Liang, 2019. "Temporal Characteristics and Spatial Homogeneity of Virtual Water Trade: A Complex Network Analysis," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 33(4), pages 1467-1480, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:waterr:v:33:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1007_s11269-019-2199-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11269-019-2199-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sartori, Martina & Schiavo, Stefano, 2014. "Virtual water trade and country vulnerability: A network perspective," MPRA Paper 59210, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Dennis Wichelns, 2010. "Virtual Water: A Helpful Perspective, but not a Sufficient Policy Criterion," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 24(10), pages 2203-2219, August.
    3. Fracasso, Andrea, 2014. "A gravity model of virtual water trade," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 215-228.
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    5. Peter Debaere, 2014. "The Global Economics of Water: Is Water a Source of Comparative Advantage?," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 6(2), pages 32-48, April.
    6. Chiarucci, Riccardo & Ruzzenenti, Franco & Loffredo, Maria I., 2014. "Detecting spatial homogeneity in the World Trade Web with Detrended Fluctuation Analysis," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 401(C), pages 1-7.
    7. M. Antonelli & R. Roson & M. Sartori, 2012. "Systemic Input-Output Computation of Green and Blue Virtual Water ‘Flows’ with an Illustration for the Mediterranean Region," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 26(14), pages 4133-4146, November.
    8. Lenzen, Manfred & Moran, Daniel & Bhaduri, Anik & Kanemoto, Keiichiro & Bekchanov, Maksud & Geschke, Arne & Foran, Barney, 2013. "International trade of scarce water," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 78-85.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Kang, Xinyu & Wang, Minxi & Wang, Taixin & Luo, Fanjie & Lin, Jing & Li, Xin, 2022. "Trade trends and competition intensity of international copper flow based on complex network: From the perspective of industry chain," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    3. Tian, Qingsong & Yu, Yan & Xu, Yueyan & Li, Chongguang & Liu, Nianjie, 2023. "Patterns and driving factors of agricultural virtual water imports in China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    4. Dong, Xiaojuan & An, Feng & Dong, Zhiliang & Wang, Ze & Jiang, Meihui & Yang, Ping & An, Haigang, 2021. "Optimization of the international nickel ore trade network," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).

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