02370cas a2200313 a 4500 AALejournalIMF022382 230101c9999 xx r poo 0 0eng d 5.00 USD 9781513593531 1018-5941 BD-DhAAL BD-DhAAL Arslanalp, Serkan. Tracking Trade from Space : An Application to Pacific Island Countries / Serkan Arslanalp, Robin Koepke, Jasper Verschuur. Washington, D.C. : International Monetary Fund, 2021. 1 online resource (40 pages) IMF Working Papers <strong>Off-Campus Access:</strong> No User ID or Password Required <strong>On-Campus Access:</strong> No User ID or Password Required Electronic access restricted to authorized BRAC University faculty, staff and students This paper proposes an easy-to-follow approach to track merchandise trade using vessel data and applies it to Pacific island countries. Pacific islands rely heavily on imports and maritime transport for trade. They are also highly vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters that pose risks to ports and supply chains. Using satellite-based vessel tracking data from the UN Global Platform, we construct daily indicators of port and trade activity for Pacific island countries. The algorithm significantly advances estimation techniques of previous studies, particularly by employing ways to overcome challenges with the estimation of cargo payloads, using detailed information on shipping liner schedules to validate port calls, and applying country-specific information to define port boundaries. The approach can complement and help fill gaps in official data, provide early warning signs of turning points in economic activity, and assist policymakers and international organizations to monitor and provide timely responses to shocks (e.g., COVID-19). Mode of access: Internet Climate imf Forecasting and Other Model Applications imf Large Data Sets imf Trade imf Koepke, Robin. Verschuur, Jasper. IMF Working Papers; Working Paper ; No. 2021/225 Full text available on IMF http://elibrary.imf.org/view/journals/001/2021/225/001.2021.issue-225-en.xml IMF e-Library