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Problems in the Interpretation of Foreign Trade Statistics before 1914
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 February 2009
Extract
In general, we are all aware of the shortcomings of historical statistics. But this may be the moment, as the cliometricians dust off their computers, to take a closer look at one of the more attractive series, the statistics for foreign trade. Assuming that foreign trade figures exist at all and that they are not distorted beyond average by misrepresentation or fraud, the most difficult problems of interpretation are likely to arise over the origin and destination of the trade, the system of valuation of the products traded, and the classifications employed.
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References
1 Mr Phipps' report on Brazil, 1872: Parliamentary Papers, Great Britain, 1872, 59, 646.
2 Mr Grant Watson's report on Brazil, 1909: P.P. 1910, 96, 554.
3 MrFisher's, G. A. report on the Dominican Republic, 1914: P.P. 1914–1916, 72, 58.Google Scholar
4 Consul-General Nightingale's report on the Dominican Republic, 1911/12: P.P. 1912–1913, 95, 527.
5 Minutes of Evidence, Report of the Departmental Committee on Trade Records: P.P. 1908, 25, QQ. 662, 824.
6 Consul Morgan's report on Bahia, 1860: P.P. 1862, 58, 636.
7 Acting Consul-General Alice's report on Valparaiso, 1910/11: P.P. 1912–1913, 94, 589.
8 Consul Ross's report on Buenos Aires, 1906: P.P. 1907, 88, 52.
9 The Times, Financial and Commercial Supplement, 15 January 1909, 23b.
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11 Report of the Committee appointed to inquire into the Accuracy and Comparability of British and Foreign Statistics of International Trade, Report of the British Association, 1904, 317, 307.
12 Minutes of Evidence, Report of the Royal Commission on the Depression of Trade and Industry, P.P. 1886, 21, Q. 349.
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17 An extreme example of the absurdities to which this gave rise was the Dutch valuation for sugar, corresponding in 1903–4 to 29s. 8d. per cwt. of raw and 33s.IId per cwt. of refined. The declared value of sugar brought into the United Kingdom at about the same time was only 7s. 7d. and 10s. 7d. respectively: quoted in Smith's, H. LlewellynMemorandum explaining the Discrepancies between German and British Figures, Board of Trade, 04 1904, P.P. 1904, 87, 858.Google Scholar
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29 British Association Committee, loc. cit., 310, 309.
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