Context. The ratio of trade to GDP  -- sometimes referred to as "trade openness" -- is a common metric for how globally integrated a country's economy is. Comparisons between countries are complicated because a country's size and location affects its ratio. We're primarily interested in changes over time, e.g., if the United States becomes more economically isolated its trade-to-GDP ratio should decrease.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is an intergovernmental organization whose 37 member countries share a commitment to democracy and a market economy. The United States is a prominent member of the OECD. To calculate the trade-to-GDP ratio for all OECD countries, we divide the sum of their trade by the sum of their GDP.

This question has an analogue that asks about the trade-to-GDP ratio of China, which is not a member of the OECD. You can view that question here.

Data and resolution details. This question resolves based on OECD data. GDP data is from OECD's Quarterly National Accounts database. It's calculated using the expenditure approach and the VPVOBARSA measure: U.S. dollars, volume estimates, fixed PPPs, OECD reference year, annual levels, seasonally adjusted. Trade data (imports and exports of goods) is from OECD's International Trade MEI dataset. It's measured in U.S. dollars, seasonally adjusted.

This question resolves when GDP and trade data are available through June 30, 2021. Based on the historical data release schedule, that will likely be mid-August 2021.

The data underlying the graph is here.

This question is a metric for the following scenarios:

• An Isolated China in a Globalized World
• Three Possible 2025 Worlds that Should Inform Policy Today

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