International telecommunications around the world. A flow analysis

This article focuses on patterns and trends in International telecommunications of 18 selected countries, using AT & T data for the most frequently called countries, 1977-1987. Trends in the geographical distribution of call-destination countries are examined. The total shares of the most frequently called countries are shown to be declining in most countries, attesting to an opening up of the system; the share of calls to the G7 countries changes similarly. An analysis of matrices of telephone calls, trade and tourism traffic among the G7 reveals a hierarchy of centrality. Finally, regression analyses show a strong 'explanation' for the variations in telephone calls by trade. An exception is the USA, where tourism provides a better 'explanation'.