Telling an Old Story with New Maps - Geographic Visualization: Concepts, Tools and Applications - page 101

Text Box 5.28: Net Valuable Imports
The United States alone imports 59% of all valuables, net. The second biggest net
importer, Italy, imports about a tenth of the US$ value of imports to the United States.
The third biggest importer of valuables, the United Arab Emirates, imports only two-
thirds of the valuables (US$ net) that Italy imports.
The United Arab Emirates has the highest per person spending on net valuable
imports (US$). This is US$1270 per person. One reason that this territory can afford
high net imports of valuables is because of its 'liquid gold' - petroleum. Despite
exporting diamonds and platinum, South Africa is a high net importer of valuables.
Will the people in the cheaper seats clap your hands? All the rest of you, if you'll
just rattle your jewellery
(John Lennon, 1963)
5.2.28 Royalties and licence fees net exports
One part of trade that we may not consider when we try to comprehensively list items traded,
is that in royalties and licence fees. The reason for this omission is copyright's immaterial
nature - it gives someone the right to use an idea or creation and in return the seller signs
a contract then reaps the financial rewards. Thus years after the creative moment, someone
can still be earning from it. Those populations where there is a net income from this trade are
the United States, the UK, France, Sweden, Paraguay, and a few others that can barely be seen.
Figure 5.31 Territory size shows the proportion of worldwide net exports of royalties and licence
fees (in US$) that come from there. Net exports are exports minus imports. When imports are larger
than exports the territory is not shown (Worldmapper Map 99)