This chapter guides the reader to a global understanding of issues associated with digitalisation. It first briefly presents the impressive increase in international transactions between World War II and the financial market crisis in 2008. The chapter presents new concepts to solve the “trade puzzle”. A remeasurement of international transactions in the age of digital globalisation has to include a more careful consideration of the specifics of service trade, data trade and the consequences of blurry boundaries than in the past. Otherwise statistics on international activities might mislead policymakers. They could indicate a “trade peak” and underestimate the still increasing worldwide interdependence. Many researchers and institutions are dealing with the consequences of digitalisation on trade patterns and trade measurement. They also aim to provide more insights on what is attributed to digitalisation and what is attributed to the advancement of technology.
This chapter guides the reader to a global understanding of issues associated with digitalisation. It first briefly presents the impressive increase in international transactions between World War II and the financial market crisis in 2008. The chapter presents new concepts to solve the “trade puzzle”. A remeasurement of international transactions in the age of digital globalisation has to include a more careful consideration of the specifics of service trade, data trade and the consequences of blurry boundaries than in the past. Otherwise statistics on international activities might mislead policymakers. They could indicate a “trade peak” and underestimate the still increasing worldwide interdependence. Many researchers and institutions are dealing with the consequences of digitalisation on trade patterns and trade measurement. They also aim to provide more insights on what is attributed to digitalisation and what is attributed to the advancement of technology.