Economic maps

Maps to explain economic geography.

Split of Chain and Independent Stores by U.S. State
BusinessEconomic maps
Alex

The Cities in the United States With the Highest Percentage of Independent Stores

Small businesses play a vital role in any commercial economy. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, there are approximately 31.7 million active small businesses in the United States, which make up 99.9% of all registered companies. Although large retailers are in control of the retail sector in the country, the 100 biggest chain stores generated a total of $2.6 trillion in sales in 2022, as reported by the National Retail Federation’s study.

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The largest exporters: 1990 vs 2021
Economic maps
Alex

Countries with the largest exports in 1990 vs. 2021 visualized

From 1990 to 2021, there have been notable changes in the leading exporting countries. China has emerged as a global export powerhouse, experiencing rapid economic growth and becoming the world’s largest exporter. Other Asian countries, such as South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam, have also witnessed significant export growth and gained prominence in global trade. Meanwhile, traditional exporting powerhouses like the United States, Germany, and Japan have maintained their positions but faced increased competition. Overall, the shift in global economic dynamics has led to a redistribution of export power among nations over the past three decades.

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World Map of Contactless Card Limits in Every Country
Economic maps
Alex

Contactless Card Limits in Every Country

The global financial technology sector persists in expanding at a tremendous rate, with $43.6 billion of investment into the payments space alone in the first half of 2022, according to KPMG. Contactless technology has been a significant contributing element to the sector’s development. Market data from Juniper Research shows that 53% of global card transactions will be completed without the traditional chip and PIN method in the next 5 years.

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How Much You Should Tip Restaurant Staff in every country mapped
Cultural cartographyEconomic maps
Alex

A comprehensive guide to tipping in 162 countries, mapped

To tip or not to tip – that is the question. Whether or not you hand extra money to a bellhop or round up the eatery bill often relies on a country’s local traditions. For instance, if you live in the United States, you know that tipping is pretty much always expected by specific employees in the service industry, like bartenders and servers, who usually rely on tips to make up the prevalence of their earnings. In other nations, like Japan, staff will probably see a tip as insulting.

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World map of currency unions
Economic maps
Alex

Mapped: Currency Unions (formal and informal)

Currency unions involve multiple countries adopting a common currency, either formally or informally. In formal currency unions, like the Eurozone, member nations use a shared currency managed by a central authority, promoting economic integration and stability. Informal currency unions involve countries using a foreign currency for transactions, either alongside or instead of their national currency, often driven by economic considerations, historical ties, or trade facilitation. Currency unions aim to simplify transactions, enhance economic cooperation, and reduce exchange rate uncertainties among participating nations.

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