Structural characteristics and influencing factors of agricultural trade spatial network: evidence from RCEP 15 countries

Based on national agricultural trade panel data of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) countries from 2002 to 2020, the structural characteristics of the RCEP national agricultural trade spatial network are reconstructed by the social network analysis method in this paper. Specifically, the characteristics consist of overall characteristics, individual characteristics, core-periphery structure analysis, and block models. Moreover, the influence factors on the agricultural trade network are also examined by the QAP regression model. The conclusions are summarized as follows. Firstly, the agricultural trade in RCEP countries has significant spatial correlation, showing favorable stability and accessibility. Secondly, Australia, China, Thailand, and Vietnam are the central actor's leading position in the correlation network. While Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and other countries are in the marginal position. Thirdly, the network can be divided into four blocks, including the net benefit block, the two-way spillover block, the broker block, and the net spillover block. The spillover effect between the blocks is transitive. And finally, geographical distance, economic and social conditions, resource endowment, and language proximity index significantly impact the RCEP agricultural trade network structure.