The structure of the global virtual water trade network is studied under the framework of complex network theory. We build, analyze and model the network describing the transfer of the water embedded in main food products among the nations of the world. Relevant characteristics found include the fact that the number of trade connections follows an exponential distribution while the volume of water trade by different nations is well fitted by a stretched exponential with a power law relationship between the degree of a node (trade connections) and the strength of the node (volume of water traded). A small group of nations play a determinant role in the connectivity of the network whose structure can be satisfactorily predicted on the basis of two fitness external variables characteristic of each node.

Keywords: Statistic; Water; Food; Trade

Biography: Dr Ignacio Rodriguez-Iturbe is the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor at Princeton University