Vertical trade – companies breaking down production processes and importing more of their inputs – has encouraged specialization and enabled them to generate economies of scale, says Michael Burt of the Conference Board of Canada. However, conventional measures of trade may misrepresent the nature of international trade.

Burt, a two-time UWindsor grad (BComm 1996, MBA 1997), will discuss the concept of value-added trade in a free public presentation, “Adding Value to Trade Measures: An Introduction to Value-Added Trade,” at 2 p.m. Friday, November 25, in room 1163, Chrysler Hall North.

“We will look at the industrial mix of Canada’s international trade in value-added terms and see how it differs from conventional measures,” Burt says. “This will help us to understand what are Canada’s strengths and weaknesses while measuring its interdependence with other countries. Finally, we will explore the data and try to understand Canada’s role in the global supply chain.”

Burt joined the Conference Board of Canada in 2004 and currently serves as associate director of its Industrial Economic Trends group. His lecture is sponsored by the Department of Economics.