DHL Global Connectedness Index 2014

108 II. Visualizing Global Connectedness
Printed Publications Trade: Linguistic Linkages
Printed publications trade constitutes the second information pillar component on which we have adequate data
to generate visualizations. The data used here encompass trade in printed books, newspapers, pictures and other
products of the printing industry, manuscripts, typescripts, and plans.
The comparison with phone calls illustrates the influence of weight versus weightlessness on international
interactions. As the circular visualization and the last table on the next two pages indicate, regionalization is much
higher for printed publications than for telephone calls: 62%, or the second highest level after tourism. And the
average distance traversed is 10% less than that for phone calls.
Looking at the circular visualization and the list of the 10 largest flows also illustrates another factor that has a
strong—and intuitive—influence on printed publications trade. Six of the 10 largest flows involve partners that
share a common language—versus a 10% likelihood of that happening for two randomly selected countries.
Advanced economies are the leading exporters of printed material, with 75% of world total exports, as compared
to only 55% for merchandise trade overall. Recall that across all of the information pillar components, advanced
economies are nine times more deeply integrated into international information flows than emerging economies.