The Observatory of Economic Complexity – useful for business?

If you’re in business and looking for a market for your products, here’s a quick example of how the Observatory of Economic Complexity might be useful:

Switzerland is well known for its high quality time pieces, so it’s no great surprise to see it’s a major exporter of watches

Exports of watches in 2010

Switzerland’s export market for watches in 2010 was worth $9.4bn

What’s probably less well known is what it’s also a significant importer of:

• Watch straps
• Cases and parts
• Other clock and watch parts

That’s $370m in watch straps, $290m in cases and parts, and $340m in other clock and watch parts. Total = $1bn

The Observatory of Economic Complexity is a tool that allows users to quickly compose a visual narrative about countries and the products they exchange.