Subject:
Applied Science
Material Type:
Module
Provider Set:
OpenStax College
Tags:
A Percentage of GDP, Exports of Goods and Services as
Language:
English

# Trade Balances in Historical and International Context

## Overview

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Analyze graphs of the current account balance and the merchandise trade balance
• Identify patterns in U.S. trade surpluses and deficits
• Compare the U.S. trade surpluses and deficits to other countries' trade surpluses and deficits

We present the history of the U.S. current account balance in recent decades in several different ways. Figure (a) shows the current account balance and the merchandise trade balance in dollar terms. Figure (b) shows the current account balance and merchandise account balance yet again, this time as a share of the GDP for that year. By dividing the trade deficit in each year by GDP in that year, Figure (b) factors out both inflation and growth in the real economy.

By either measure, the U.S. balance of trade pattern is clear. From the 1960s into the 1970s, the U.S. economy had mostly small trade surpluses—that is, the graphs in Figure show positive numbers. However, starting in the 1980s, the trade deficit increased rapidly, and after a tiny surplus in 1991, the current account trade deficit became even larger in the late 1990s and into the mid-2000s. However, the trade deficit declined in 2009 after the recession had taken hold, then rebounded partially in 2010 and has remained stable up through 2016.

Table shows the U.S. trade picture in 2013 compared with some other economies from around the world. While the U.S. economy has consistently run trade deficits in recent years, Japan and many European nations, among them France and Germany, have consistently run trade surpluses. Some of the other countries listed include Brazil, the largest economy in Latin America; Nigeria, along with South Africa competing to be the largest economy in Africa; and China, India, and Korea. The first column offers one measure of an economy's globalization: exports of goods and services as a percentage of GDP. The second column shows the trade balance. Usually, most countries have trade surpluses or deficits that are less than 5% of GDP. As you can see, the U.S. current account balance is –2.6% of GDP, while Germany's is 8.4% of GDP.

Exports of Goods and Services Current Account Balance
United States 17.6% –2.6%
Japan 16.2% 3.1%
Germany 46.8% 8.4%
United Kingdom 27.2% –5.4%
Sweden 45.6% 5.2%
Korea 45.9% 7.7%
Mexico 35.4% –2.9%
Brazil 13.0% –3.3%
China 22.1% 3.0%
India 19.9% –1.1%
Nigeria 10.7% -3.3%
World - 0.0%
Level and Balance of Trade in 2015 (figures as a percentage of GDP, Source: http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/BN.CAB.XOKA.GD.ZS)

# Key Concepts and Summary

The United States developed large trade surpluses in the early 1980s, swung back to a tiny trade surplus in 1991, and then had even larger trade deficits in the late 1990s and early 2000s. As we will see below, a trade deficit necessarily means a net inflow of financial capital from abroad, while a trade surplus necessarily means a net outflow of financial capital from an economy to other countries.

# Self-Check Questions

In what way does comparing a country’s exports to GDP reflect its degree of globalization?

## Hint:

GDP is a dollar value of all production of goods and services. Exports are produced domestically but shipped abroad. The percent ratio of exports to GDP gives us an idea of how important exports are to the national economy out of all goods and services produced. For example, exports represent only 14% of U.S. GDP, but 50% of Germany’s GDP

At one point Canada’s GDP was $1,800 billion and its exports were$542 billion. What was Canada’s export ratio at this time?

## Hint:

Divide $542 billion by$1,800 billion.

The GDP for the United States is $18,036 billion and its current account balance is –$484 billion. What percent of GDP is the current account balance?

## Hint:

Divide –$400 billion by$16,800 billion.

Why does the trade balance and the current account balance track so closely together over time?

## Hint:

The trade balance is the difference between exports and imports. The current account balance includes this number (whether it is a trade balance or a trade surplus), but also includes international flows of money from global investments.

# Review Question

In recent decades, has the U.S. trade balance usually been in deficit, surplus, or balanced?

# Critical Thinking Questions

If a country is a big exporter, is it more exposed to global financial crises?

If countries reduced trade barriers, would the international flows of money increase?