hinrichfoundation 15d ago

Why is the global shipping industry notoriously resistant to going paperless? Despite intense pressure from governments and tech innovators, physical paperwork like bills of lading remains a staple at major transshipment hubs. In this short excerpt, historian and economist Marc Levinson explains the sharp economic divide preventing a universal digital standard. By comparing high-value pharmaceutical cargo to low-value agricultural exports (like bulk hay), Levinson illustrates how fixed digitalization costs burden different sectors unequally, keeping the maritime community fundamentally divided on data flows. ⏱️ Clip extracted from the full event: "Geopolitics and Shipping at the Nexus of Global Trade Chaos". 👤 Speakers: Marc Levinson (Author, The Box) & Chuin Wei Yap (Hinrich Foundation). About Trade Book Talks Our Trade Book Talks delve into timely research-driven perspectives on global trade issues for an audience of academics, policymakers and trade practitioners. Each moderated session features authors of recently published books that provide insight into the evolving global trade landscape. https://tinyurl.com/yk9w2azz #TradePolicy #InternationalRelations #Economics #USForeignPolicy #WTO #BilateralDeals #GlobalEconomy