聯(lián)合國貿(mào)易發(fā)展委員會-新冠疫情對數(shù)字經(jīng)濟貿(mào)易的影響（英）-2021.10-15正式版

UNITEDNATIONSCONFERENCEONTRADEANDDEVELOPMENTIMPACTSOFTHECOVID-19PANDEMICONTRADEINTHEDIGITALECONOMYUNCTADTechnicalNotesonICTforDevelopmentNo19IMPACTSOFTHECOVID-19PANDEMICONTRADEINTHEDIGITALECONOMY1IntroductionTheCOVID-19pandemichasprovidedsuddenandstrongimpetusforbusinessesandindividualstoadoptorincreasetheiruseofdigitaltoolstocontinueeconomicactivity.Byacceleratingdigitalizationanddeepeningrelianceondigitaltechnologies,COVID-19hasboostedtheimportanceofinternationalinformationandcommunicationstechnology(ICT)relatedgoodsandservicesinglobaltrade.Againstabackdropofsharplydecliningtrade,theshareofICTgoodsinmerchandiseimportssurgedfromaround13%in2019tonearly16%in2020–thegreatestannualincreasesincerecordsbeganin2000.Similarly,ICTservicesgrewtoalmost14%oftotalservicesexportsworldwidein2020,whiledigitallydeliverableservicesoverallincreasedtonearly64%oftotalservicesexports–havingcontractedrelativelylittleagainstthebackdropofanunprecedented20%declineintotalservicestrade(seeBox1fordefinitions).However,countrieshavedifferedintheextenttowhichtheyhavebeenabletobenefitfromdemandforICTgoods,andtouseICTstocontinueservicestradethroughdigitaldelivery.ICTgoodstradedeclinedsharplyinleastdevelopedcountries(LDCs)andAfricabetween2019and2020,andwhileallregionsincreasedICTanddigitallydeliverableproducts’shareintotalservicestrade,LDCexportsofICTservicesdeclinedby22%-aspartofa9%fallindigitallydeliverableexportsmorebroadly.Assuch,thepandemic-relatedaccelerationindigitalizationrisksfurtherexacerbatingdigitaldivides,withleastdevelopedcountries(LDCs)beingleftfurtherbehind.Itisnowmoreurgentthanevertoensurethatthosetrailingindigitalreadinesscancatch-up.ThisnotelooksinmoredetailatthelatestdevelopmentsinICT-relatedtrade(ICTgoods,ICTservices,digitally-deliverableservices).2COVID-19pandemicdrivesICTgoodstradereboundThelatestdatafor2020showgrowingrelianceondigitaltechnologiesboostinginternationaltradeincomputersandrelatedequipment–reversingfallsseenin2019.Byacceleratingdigitalization,COVID-19appearstohaveboostedtradeinICTgoods,whichhaddeclinedbeforethepandemic.GlobalexportsofICTgoodsincreasedby4%,tooverUS$2.3trillionin2020.Meanwhile,importsofsuchgoodsgrewby1.1%,risingUS$27billiontoalmostUS$2.5trillion.Thisreflectsanacceleratingrelianceondigitaltechnologiesduringthelockdownmeasuresintroducedinmanyeconomiesandstandsoutagainstoverallfallsineconomicactivitiesinthewakeofthepandemic–inwhichoverallmerchandisetradecontractedbyaround7.5%(accordingtobothexportandimportdata).2.1SteepdeclinesinLDCsandAfricaTheupwardtrendinICTgoodsexportswasseenonlyinEasternandSouth-EasternAsia,wheretheysurgedby8%.Inallotherregionsexportsdeclined.ByfarthesharpestdropsoccurredinLDCs(-82%)andinAfrica(-48%)(Table1).Table1.GlobaltradeinICTgoods,2019-2020,bydevelopmentregionICTgoodsexportsICTgoodsimportsUS$millionsChange2019-2020(%)%ofmerchandiseexports15US$millionsChange2019-2020(%)%ofmerchandiseimports16WorldAfricaAsiaCentralandsouthernAsiaEasternandSouth-EasternAsiaEurope2,354,9001,65042,493,69710,3511.1-4861.0272-49451,815,3025,7351,478,92144,5742410278-138-1491,800,746324,71965,2473051,413,318506,25793,056-1-3LatinAmericaandtheCaribbeanNorthernAmericaOceania-69-204141311145,0472,934-58378,79126,322-1410.4Developedregions(M49)Developingregions(M49)Leastdevelopedcountries536,6791,818,221115-2561,008,3511,485,3461,6320.2210244270.2-82-49Note:Notadjustedforre-exports/re-importsduetodataavailability(seeannex).Changescalculatedincurrentprices.Source:UNCTADbasedonUNCTADdigitaleconomystatistics().Regardingimports,thepictureismoremixed.WhilemostregionsregistereddeclinesinICTgoodsimportsin2020,NorthAmericaandAsiaeachsawanincreaseof4%,withthelatterpoweredbydemandespeciallyineasternandsouth-easternAsia.Oceaniaalsoregisteredsomegrowth(0.4%).Whileimportdemandindevelopedregionsasawholestayedrelativelyflat(0.2%change),acrossdevelopingregionsICTgoodsimportsincreasedby2%overall.However,thisconcealsgreatlydifferingtrendsbetweendevelopingcountriesasimportsofICTgoodstotheLDCsandtoAfricadeclinedbyhalf(Figure1).Assuch,thepandemicappearstobeexacerbatingexistingdividesbypushingfurtherbehindcountriesthatwerealreadystrugglingtoengageinICTgoodstrade.Figure1.ChangeinICTgoodsexportsandimports,2019-2020%change2019-2020-90-80-70-60-50-40-30-20-10-1020EasternandSouth-EasternAsiaWorldNorthernAmericaEuropeOceaniaLatinAmericaandtheCaribbeanCentralandsouthernAsiaAfricaDevelopingregions(M49)Developedregions(M49)LeastdevelopedcountriesICTgoodsexportsICTgoodsimportsNote:Notadjustedforre-exports/re-importsduetodataavailability(seeannex).Changescalculatedincurrentprices.Source:UNCTADbasedonUNCTADdigitaleconomystatistics().Nevertheless,asaresultofthesharpdropinoverallmerchandisetrade,theshareofICTgoodsintotalmerchandiseimportsincreasedinLDCsandAfricaasitdidinotherregionsin2020(reaching3.5%forLDCsand5.3%forAfrica).However,theincreasesinotherregionswerelargerandtheextenttowhichLDCsandAfricatrailotherregionsintermsoftheirengagementinICTgoodstradethereforeincreasedin2020(Figure2).Figure2.ICTgoodsexportsandimports,asashareoftotalmerchandisetrade,2019-2020Note:Notadjustedforre-exports/re-importsduetodataavailability(seeannex).Sharescalculatedincurrentprices(i.e.notadjustedforpricechangesbetweenperiods).Source:UNCTADbasedonUNCTADdigitaleconomystatistics().2.2TopexportersofICTgoodsExportsofICTgoodsaregeographicallyhighlyconcentrated,witheasternandsouth-easternAsia(ledbyChina)accountingforoverthree-quartersoftheglobaltotal.Lookingatthetop-10exportersofICTgoodsin2020(Table2),thegreatestincreasewasobservedinTaiwanProvinceofChina(20%),buildingona7%increasein2019,whilethegreatestreboundoccurredinSingaporewhichregistered11%growthin2020followinga6%fallin2019.Mexicoreportedthebiggestdecreasein2020(-6%).OthereconomieswithICTgoodsexportsexceedingUS$1billionthatshowedhighgrowthratesincludedLatvia(28%),Estonia(26%),andIsrael(19%).Meanwhile,suchexportsweremostnegativelyaffectedinCanada(-22%),Turkey(-18%),Australia,Finland,andIndia(each-13%).Table2.ExportsofICTGoodsfortop-10exportersin2020ExportsUS$millionsChange2019-2020(%)Globalmarketshare(%)30%China701,8686%HongKongSARChinaTaiwanProvinceofChinaRepublicofKoreaUnitedStatesofAmericaSingapore319,619182,938148,113138,375126,411109,09181,3595%20%6%14%8%6%6%5%5%3%3%3%-4%11%18%5%VietNamMalaysiaGermany70,960-3%-6%Mexico64,354Note:Noadjustmentforre-exportsduetodataavailability(seeannex).Changescalculatedincurrentprices.Source:UNCTADbasedonUNCTADdigitaleconomystatistics().2.3TopimportersofICTgoodsIn2020,easternandsouth-easternAsiatogetheraccountedfor57%ofglobalimportsofICTgoodsanddevelopedregionsforanother40%.Importsincreasedinallofthetop-10importersexceptGermany,whichregisteredaslightdecline(-0.4%)(Table3).VariousothermajorICTgoodsimporters(overUS$25billion)thatregisteredgreatercontractionsincludeIndia(-12%),Mexico(-9%),Canada(-3%),France(-2%),andtheUnitedKingdom(-1%).Bycontrast,significantincreaseswereobservedforPoland(+25%),CzechiaandThailand(+10%each).ThesharpestoveralldeclinesinICTgoodsimportswererecordedinBoliviaandEgypt(both-46%)whilethegreatestoverallincreasesoccurredinGambia(75%),Albania(70%),andBarbados(49%).Table3.ImportsofICTGoodsfortop-10exportersin2020ExportsUS$millionsChange2019-2020(%)Globalmarketshare(%)21%China516,38911%UnitedStatesofAmericaHongKongSARChinaSingapore347,415325,552108,346103,33489,72689,10483,57680,04472,6055%5%14%13%4%4%4%4%3%3%3%12%-0.4%2%GermanyJapanTaiwanProvinceofChinaRepublicofKoreaVietNam18%5%23%4%NetherlandsNote:Noadjustmentforre-importsduetodataavailability(seeannex).Changescalculatedincurrentprices.Source:UNCTADbasedonUNCTADdigitaleconomystatistics().2.4ElectroniccomponentsdominateICTgoodstradeThelatestfiguresshowthatelectroniccomponentscontinuetobethemainelementoftradeinICTgoods,comprising44%ofimportsglobally.AdvancesinelectroniccomponentshelpdrivethefastpaceoftechnologicalinnovationintheICTsector,andimportsincreasedinvolumeby8%comparedto2019(Figure3).In2020,computersandperipheralequipmentovertookcommunicationequipmentasthesecondlargestcomponentofICTimportsforthefirsttimesince2013.Indeed,in2020,importsofcomputersandperipheralequipmentincreasedby3%whileimportsofcommunicationandconsumerelectronicequipmentfellbyaround10%.TheCOVID-19pandemicislikelytohavehelpedtodrivethisbyincentivizingpurchasesofPCsandlaptopsmoresuitedtoin-depthworkthancommunicationsdevicessuchassmartphones,aswellasperipheralssuchasscreens,speakers,keyboards,andmicethatcanaidinworkingfromhome.Atthesametime,reducedincomesandfinancialuncertaintyresultingfromthepandemicmayhavesuppresseddemandforupgradestomobiledevicesandconsumerelectronics.Figure3.ImportsofICTGoodsfortop-10exportersin2020US$billionsincurrentpricesTotalICTgoodsElectroniccomponentsCommunicationequipmentMiscellaneousComputersandperipheralequipmentConsumerelectronicequipmentImportsUS$billionsChange2019-20TotalICTgoods6,0005,0004,0003,0002,0001,000010%5%Electroniccomponents0%ComputersandperipheralequipmentCommunicationequipment-5%-10%-15%ConsumerelectronicequipmentMiscellaneous2019-20Note:Currentprices(i.e.noadjustmentforpricechangesovertime).Noadjustmentforre-importsduetodataavailability(seeannex).Source:UNCTADbasedonUNCTADdigitaleconomystatistics().Akeyquestionistheextenttowhichthechangesoutlinedabovewillendureasthepandemicprogressesandafterwards–includingthefurtherexacerbationofpre-existingdivideswherebytheextenttowhichtheLDCsandAfricancountriescanengageinICTgoodstradehasbeenfurtherreduced.WhethertheywillsoonbeabletoreturntopreviouslevelsofICTgoodsexportsandimportsislikelytodependmostimmediatelyonthepathofthepandemicin2021andthefollowingyears.JustasICTgoodstradehasbeenbolsteredbypandemic-relatedchanges,sotoohastradeinICTservices.ThefollowingsectionexaminesdevelopmentsintheinternationaltradeofICTservicesandthewidercategoryofdigitallydeliverableservices.3Servicestradedatafor2020confirmthegrowingimportanceofdigitaltechnologiesduringthepandemic.ICTservicesgrewtoalmost14%oftotalservicesexportsworldwidein2020,whiledigitallydeliverableservicesoverallincreasedtonearly64%oftotalservicesexports-havingcontractedrelativelylittleagainstthebackdropofanunprecedented20%declineintotalservicestrade.However,whilethesesharesincreasedacrossallregions,thepandemic-relatedaccelerationindigitalizationrisksfurtherexacerbatingdigitaldivides,withLDCsfallingfurtherbehind.TheCOVID-19pandemichasprovidedstrongimpetusforbusinessesandindividualstoadoptdigitaltools,helpingtodrivea6%increaseinworldwideexportsofICTservices.ThevalueofICTservicesexportsworldwidereachedUS$676billionin2020astheusageofcommunicationsservices,computerservicesandsoftwarewereboostedbythelockdownrestrictionsimplementedinmanyeconomies.Meanwhile,exportsofthewidercategoryofdigitallydeliverableservices–thosewhichcanbedeliveredremotelyoverICTnetworkssuchastheInternet–fellbyUS$57billiontoavalueofUS$3.17trillionworldwide(seeBox1formoreonthedefinitionsandmeasurementoftheseproducts).Digitaltechnologiesappeartohaveplayedanimportantroleinsupportingbroaderinternationaltradeandeconomicactivityin2020.Whiletotalservicesexportsdeclinedby20%(anunprecedenteddropsincerecordsbeganin1990),worldwideexportsofdigitallydeliverableservicesfellbyonly1.8%.Digitallydeliverableservicescontributedlessthan1percentagepointofthetotaldeclineinservicesexports.Meanwhile,thegrowthofICTservicespartiallyoffsetreductionsinthetradeofotherserviceproductsbyoverhalfapercentagepoint(Figure4).Figure4.GlobalexportsofICTservicesanddigitallydeliverableservices,2019-2020US$billionsincurrentpricesandchangeasapercentageof2019totalservicesTotalservicesDigitallydeliverableservicesOfwhich:ICTservices%of2019totalservices2US$billions7,0006,0005,0004,0003,0002,0001,000--2-6-10-14-18-2220192020Change2019-2020Note:US$valuesincurrentprices(i.e.notadjustedforpricechangesbetweenperiods).Source:UNCTADbasedonUNCTADdigitaleconomystatistics().3.1LeastdevelopedcountriesriskfallingfurtherbehindindigitallyrelatedservicestradeWithICTservicesexportsincreasinganddigitallydeliverableservicesexportsholdingrelativelysteadyin2020,theirshareinthegreatlyreducedoveralltotalofservicesexportsincreasedsignificantlyacrossallregions.Worldwide,digitallydeliverableserviceswentfrombelow52%ofservicesexportsin2019toalmost64%in2020,whileICTservicesgrewfrom10%toalmost14%-amarkedaccelerationofthelong-termtrend(Figure5).Regionsfareddifferentlywithinthisover-archingpicture,however.Whiletheexportshareofdigitallydeliverableservicesincreasedinallregionsandtherewasa14percentagepointincreaseacrossdevelopingregionsasawhole,theincreasewasonly10percentagepointsinAfricaand6percentagepointsinLDCs.ICTservices’exportshareincreasedmarkedlylessinLDCscomparedtootherregions–risingjust0.74percentagepointscomparedto3.3percentagepointsglobally.ThisreflectsLDCs’limitedabilitytoleveragedigitaltechnologiestocontinueengaginginservicestradeduringthedisruptionwroughtbytheCOVID-19pandemic.Figure5.GlobalICTanddigitallydeliverableservicesexports,2005-2020and2019-2020Asapercentageoftotalservicesexports%DigitallydeliverableservicesICTservices%Digitallydeliverableservices%ICTservices808020World706050403020100706050403020100Developedregions(M49)Developingregions(M49)AsiaandOceania10LatinAmericaandtheCaribbeanAfricaLDCs(Leastdevelopedcountries)020202019200520102015202020192020Note:ICTservicesunavailablefor“Developingregions(M49)”and“AsiaandOceania”.Source:UNCTADbasedonUNCTADdigitaleconomystatistics().WhilethevalueofdigitallydeliverableservicesexportsdeclinedinallregionsexceptAsiaandNorthAmerica,mostregionsincreasedtheirexportsoftheICTservicescomponentin2020,ledbyNorthernAmerica(9.3%)andWesternAsia(8.2%).Bycontrast,suchexportscontractedbyaround2%inAfricaandLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean,andby3.2%inSouth-easternAsia(Table4).DeclinesdisproportionatelyaffectedtheLDCs,whichsawICTservicesexportscontractby22%,partofa9%overallfallindigitallydeliverableservicesexports.Thesecountriesfacealackoftechnologicalcapabilitieslinkedtolowinvestmentinthecapitalandhumanresourcesneededtoleveragedigitaltechnologies(seeUNCTADLDCsReport2020).Thiscontinuestoconstraintheirabilitytoengageindigitaltradeatamomentwhenithassuddenlybecomeevenmoreimportant.Table4.GlobalICTanddigitallydeliverableservicesexports,2020DigitallydeliverableservicesexportsICTservicesexportsRegion/countrygroupUS$%change2019-2020-1.8%ofservicesexports63.6US$millions676,2255,962-Change2019-2020(%)%ofservicesmillions3,167,58727,748806,640163,612376,412180,42286,1931,665,07252,629594,84620,651exports13.67.2WorldAfricaAsia6-2-4.9--3.28.25.2-1.99.34.7-5.11.73.72.4-2.75.1-3.9-10.9133.6-CentralandsouthernAsiaEasternAsiaSouth-easternAsiaWesternAsiaEuropeLatinAmericaandtheCaribbeanNorthernAmericaOceania69.658.457.639.666.342.575.132.971,885-30.6-8.217.815.27.625,76338,613382,6869,42358,3184,5917.48.7-6.7Developedregions(M49)Developingregions(M49)DevelopingeconomiesexcludingChina2,436,427731,160576,785-2.60.9-0.768.152.051.2474,101-143,0906.3-3.613.3-12.7Leastdevelopedcountries7,382-922.41,819-22.35.5Note:ICTservicesexportsforEasternAsianotpublishable.Source:UNCTADbasedonUNCTADdigitaleconomystatistics().Box1.WhatareICTservicesanddigitallydeliverableservices?ICTproductsaredefinedasthose“intendedtoenableand/orfulfilthefunctionofinformationprocessingandcommunication”.ThisdefinitionwasdevelopedbytheOECD(2011)andadoptedbythePartnershiponMeasuringICTforDevelopment.ICTservicesthereforeincludetelecommunicationsservices,ITsystemdesign,softwaredevelopment,andrelatedtasks.Digitallydeliverableservicesrepresentabroaderconcept:serviceswhichcanbedeliveredoverICTnetworks(UNCTAD,2015).Thesecomprisethefollowingcategoriesfromthe2010ExtendedBalanceofPaymentsStatisticsbreakdown:??ICTservices?Management,administration,andbackofficeservicesLicencingservicesEngineering,relatedtechnicalservices,andR&DEducationandtrainingservicesSalesandmarketingservicesnotincludingtradeandleasingservicesInformationservices?????InsuranceandfinancialservicesThestatisticspresentedarebasedondatacollectedwithintheframeworkofBalanceofPaymentsstatistics(compiledaccordingtotheconceptsanddefinitionsoftheIMFBalanceofPaymentsandInternationalInvestmentPositionManual,SixthEdition(BPM6,2009)).Withinthatframework,ICTservicesareanaggregationofcomputerandtelecommunicationsservices,anddigitallydeliverableservicesareanaggregationofinsuranceandpensionservices,financialservices,chargesfortheuseofintellectualproperty,telecommunications,computerandinformationservices,otherbusinessservicesandaudiovisualandrelatedservices.ICTservicesarethereforeasubsetofdigitallydeliverableservices,asshowninFigure4.References:UNCTAD(2015),InternationalTradeinICTServicesandICT-EnabledServices,/system/files/official-document/tn_unctad_ict4d03_en.pdf.OECD(2011),OECDGuidetoMeasuringtheInformationSociety2011,/10.1787/10.1787/9789264113541-en.IMF(2009),BalanceofPaymentsandInternationalInvestmentPositionManual,SixthEdition,/external/pubs/ft/bop/2007/bopman6.htm.3.2TopimportersandexportersAlthoughimportsfiguresarenotavailableattheregionallevelduetodataasymmetries,manyeconomiesdoprovidedataonICTanddigitallydeliverableservicesimports.In2020,oftheeconomiesforwhichdataareavailable,GermanyspentthemostonimportsofICTservices–overUS$39.7billion–thoughthiswas1.4%lowerthanin2019.Amongthetop-10importersin2020,SingaporeandIndiaweretheonlydevelopingcountriesfeaturing.Theirimportsincreasedby4.4%toUS$16.6billionand14.5%toUS$10.5billion,respectively(Table5).WhenconsideredrelativetoGDPthepictureisratherdifferent.CyprusspentthegreatestshareofGDPonICTservicesimportsin2020(8.9%),followedbySingapore(4.9%),andBelgium(2.1%).TongaandUruguayalsofeature,spending1.4%and1.3%,respectively.AlthoughSingaporewasanetimporterofICTservicesin2020,itisalsoamongthetop-10ICTservicesexporters,bothbyvalue(US$15billion)andcontributiontoGDP(4.4%).Overall,IrelandexportedthemostICTservices,contributingoverUS$151billiontotheeconomy–upbynearly17%comparedto2019andequivalentto36%ofGDP.ThisreflectsIreland’sstatusasapopularlocationformanyICTcompaniestradinginEuropeandglobally,dueinparttoitsrelativelylowcorporationtaxrates.IndiaandChinafollowintermsoftheoverallvalueofICTservicesexports,whileKuwaitandBelizefeatureinthetop-10bycontributionofICTservicesexportstoGDPin2020.Table5.ICTservicestrade–top10importersandexporters2020ICTservicesimportsByvalueUS$millions39,72335,58822,17020,07716,58511,92211,82710,82010,70510,479RankByvalueas%ofGDPChange-1.4%GDP1.10.20.90.44.90.60.42.11.20.4%GDP8.94.92.11.91.81.71.51.41.41.3US$millions2,112Change20.44.4Germany12CyprusUnitedStatesofAmericaFrance-11.5-1.0SingaporeBelgiumSwedenFinlandAustriaNorwayIrelandTonga16,58510,82010,2034,973311.513.17.9Japan1.84SingaporeItaly4.457.567,1114.7UnitedKingdomBelgium-4.675,39516.39.111.5-38.114.585,941NetherlandsIndia949834.95.510Uruguay619ICTservicesexportsRankByvalueUS$millions151,46367,99359,03449,81632,24922,38219,17218,00914,97414,851Byvalueas%ofGDPChange16.85.2%GDP%GDP36.112.54.8US$millions151,4632,961Change16.812.15.2Ireland36.12.50.40.20.90.84.80.74.42.812IrelandCyprusIsraelIndiaChina9.8319,17212,8252,679UnitedStatesofAmericaGermanyUnitedKingdomIsrael12.47.14FinlandBelarusSingaporeKuwaitUkraineEstoniaBelize4.7-0.0312.1-0.754.50.964.414,9744,3205.273.9-1.2France-5.6-0.74.983.45,13719.65.3SingaporeSweden93.31,012103.14969.4Note:ConsidersonlyeconomiesforwhichUNCTADholds2020data.Source:UNCTADbasedonUNCTADdigitaleconomystatistics().Annex.Re-exportsandre-importsofICTgoods.Acountry’sexportscanbedistinguishedintoexportsofdomestic-producedgoodsandexportsofforeign-producedgoods.Thelatterisgenerallyreferredtoas“re-exports”:exportsofforeigngoodsinthesamestateaspreviouslyimported.Re-exportsareincludedinacountry’stotalexportstatistics,butitisgoodpracticetoalsoseparatelyrecordtheiramountforanalyticalpurposes.Similarly,importscanbedistinguishedintoimportsofforeign-producedgoodsandimportsofgoodsthatwereproduceddomesticallyandpreviouslyexported.Therearevariousreasonswhyanexportedgoodmightbereturnedtothecountryoforiginincludingdefects,defaultedorcancelledorders,importbarriers,andpricechanges.Theseflowsaretermed“re-imports”andareincludedinthecountry’simportstatistics,butitisgoodpracticetoalsoseparatelyrecordtheiramountforanalyticalpurposes.Thereasonforrecordingthevalueofre-exportsandre-importsissothattheycanbetreatedappropriatelyincertainanalyticalsettings.Forexample,whentryingtoestimatetheglobaldemandandsupplyofICTgoods,asindicatedbytradeflows,itispreferabletoavoidcountingthesameICTgoodmultipletimes(e.g.bothwhenitisexportedfromitscountryoforiginandwhenitisre-exportedfromasecondcountry).Inthepast,UNCTADhasfocussedasfaraspossibleonexportandimportfiguresthathavebeenadjustedtoexcludere-exports/re-imports.However,inrecentyears,theshareofeconomiesseparatelyreportingre-exportandre-importfigureshasfallendramatically(FigureA1).FigureA1.Numberofeconomiesseparatelyreportin