Assignment 1: Contemporary Trends in the Structure of Canada’s International Trade GEOG 2210: Spatial Organization of Economic Activity Presented: October 4, 2005

Summary Goals of the Assignment: Goals of the Assignment: to expose you to three techniques in the geographer’s ‘toolbox’: data capture, data manipulation and graphic presentation, and data analysis to expose you to three techniques in the geographer’s ‘toolbox’: data capture, data manipulation and graphic presentation, and data analysis to examine trends in Canada’s International trade (and compare Canada’s trade to that of the U.S., as portrayed in your course textbook) to examine trends in Canada’s International trade (and compare Canada’s trade to that of the U.S., as portrayed in your course textbook)

Important Details Value: 20% Value: 20% Scope: 1000 words + figures Scope: 1000 words + figures Due: Thursday, October 20, 2005 Due: Thursday, October 20, 2005

Source of help: Teaching Assistant: Faye Nelson Teaching Assistant: Faye Nelson Contact information: Contact information: Office: A518 Office: A518 | Phone: | Phone: Office hours: October 12-20, Monday-Friday, 10am-12pm or by appointment Office hours: October 12-20, Monday-Friday, 10am-12pm or by appointment

PHASE I: DATA CAPTURE

E-Stat

Cansim Search on ‘exports’…

Table

Subset selection 13. Select Balance of payments 14. Select major commodity groups 1-5 – both imports and exports 15. Time series:

Output: CSV file, time as columns SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!

Phase II: MS Excel Seven graphs Seven graphs Canada’s overall merchandise trade, Canada’s overall merchandise trade, Variables: Value over time Variables: Value over time Series: Total Imports, Total Exports and Trade Balance Series: Total Imports, Total Exports and Trade Balance Canada’s trade structure in 1971 and in 2004 Canada’s trade structure in 1971 and in 2004 (2 graphs) Variables: Value, grouped by commodity group Variables: Value, grouped by commodity group Series: Imports, Exports, Balance Series: Imports, Exports, Balance Canadian trade in … (4 graphs) Canadian trade in … (4 graphs) Variables: Value of commodity group trade over time Variables: Value of commodity group trade over time Series: Imports, Exports, Balance Series: Imports, Exports, Balance - Need to download additional data!

1. Overall merchandise trade 2004

Calculating Total Imports & Total Exports Insert rows Calculate values

Trade balance = Total Exports – Total Imports

Chart Wizard step 1 1.Select the data series (spreadsheet values that are used in the chart). 2.Click on the Chart Wizard button. 3.Select the type of chart (e.g. Line). 4.Click on Next

Chart Wizard step 2

Chart Wizard step 3 Label axes!

Combined charts Highlight trade balance series by right clicking on it Highlight trade balance series by right clicking on it Chart type > Column Chart type > Column

Formatting plot area The grey plot area is unnecessary… The grey plot area is unnecessary… Right click on plot area Right click on plot area Select Format Plot Area Select Format Plot Area Area: none Area: none

2. Commodity structure Create new spreadsheet arrangement Create new spreadsheet arrangement Highlight cells Highlight cells Click on Chart Wizard… Click on Chart Wizard…

3. Commodity groups Go back and retrieve Imports and Exports data from E-Stat on Go back and retrieve Imports and Exports data from E-Stat on Live animals Live animals Aircraft engines, assemblies and parts Aircraft engines, assemblies and parts Passenger automobiles and chassis Passenger automobiles and chassis Trucks and other motor vehicles Trucks and other motor vehicles Farm machinery, incl tractors Farm machinery, incl tractors Rearrange spreadsheet, calculate balances, create line graphs (with trade balance as column-type bar graph)… Rearrange spreadsheet, calculate balances, create line graphs (with trade balance as column-type bar graph)… Road vehicles

PHASE 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 need… In order to answer the questions you will need… All seven graphs from Phase II All seven graphs from Phase II Your textbook Your textbook Possibly some further background information (e.g. relevant and reliable web sites) Possibly some further background information (e.g. relevant and reliable web sites)

Questions 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 this same period. 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 this same period. 2. Describe Canada’s changing commodity structure in relation to that of the U.S.. 2. Describe Canada’s changing commodity structure in relation to that of the U.S.. In which commodities does Canada seem to have greater reliance as an exporter and in which commodities is Canada a larger importer? Do these broad patterns seem consistent with your expectations under the theory of Comparative Advantage and the Heckscher-Ohlin theory? 3. Describe the principal trends for each of the four commodity groups graphed in Phase II(3). What are the main factors influencing these trends? 3. Describe the principal trends for each of the four commodity groups graphed in Phase II(3). What are the main factors influencing these trends?

Tips on earning an “A” “Mechanics” of an “A” assignment: Graphs are complete (show required relationships) and easy to read. Variables are labeled (incl. units). Legends are brief. Graphs are complete (show required relationships) and easy to read. Variables are labeled (incl. units). Legends are brief. All graphs are referred to in the text of the assignment (e.g. …an upward trend (Fig.1).) All graphs are referred to in the text of the assignment (e.g. …an upward trend (Fig.1).) Graphs have brief captions and the source of the data is referenced (e.g. Source: Statistics Canada, 2005; Cansim Table ). Graphs have brief captions and the source of the data is referenced (e.g. Source: Statistics Canada, 2005; Cansim Table ).

Tips on earning an “A”, continued. Questions are answered in complete sentences with no spelling or grammar mistakes. Thoughts/data that are not your own are referenced. Questions are answered in complete sentences with no spelling or grammar mistakes. Thoughts/data that are not your own are referenced words 1000 words See: le_Guide.htm See: le_Guide.htm le_Guide.htm le_Guide.htm

Tips on earning an “A”, continued. “Quality of thought” Thoroughly analyze your graphs (trends, changes in value) Thoroughly analyze your graphs (trends, changes in value) Incorporate information from course textbook and other sources where necessary (remember to cite sources) but also demonstrate your own thinking! Incorporate information from course textbook and other sources where necessary (remember to cite sources) but also demonstrate your own thinking! Compare/contrast Compare/contrast

Source of help: Teaching Assistant: Faye Nelson Teaching Assistant: Faye Nelson Contact information: Contact information: Office: A518 Office: A518 | Phone: | Phone: Office hours: October 12-20, Monday-Friday, 10am-12pm or by appointment Office hours: October 12-20, Monday-Friday, 10am-12pm or by appointment