World Shipping
A simulation designed to teach basic economic principles,
knowledge of world imports and exports, and political geography of
the Eastern Hemisphere
Overview
World Shipping is a simulation designed to teach basic economic principles, a knowledge of world imports
and exports, and political geography of the Eastern Hemisphere. Students will assume control of an
import/export company, and will have a goal to increase their company profits as much as possible during
the simulated time period. Your company representatives will travel throughout the Eastern Hemisphere,
buying and selling commodities that will benefit your company. This is a competition, so strategy is
extremely important, to the point that you will want to keep it a secret from the other trading companies.
Preparation
1. Your company owns ten containers. These containers will move around the Eastern Hemisphere
together, and can be transported using a ship, a train or trucks. The containers are all empty. It is your
job to fill them with commodities (imports and exports).
2. Company name. Your name should be something original, possibly representing the names of the
students in your company or something to do with shipping or transportation.
3. Your company will start with $3,000.
4. Select a starting city. You may start at any location on the map. It is advisable to start at a capital
city, since you can only buy and sell at the capital city (indicated by a star) of a country. You only
make money by spending it, so select a capital city where you can buy and sell as quickly as possible.
5. The simulation will last for sixteen days. Just a reminder – you can only buy on the first day, and you
can only sell on the last day. A “day” is traveling from one city to another. It does not matter how far
apart the cities are located from each other, so you will be buying and selling on sixteen different
days, which means sixteen different balance sheets.
6. Use the list of imports and exports to determine what will be the most profitable route for your
company to take. Once you have planned your strategy, fill in a secret strategy chart. This will help
to plan your route. You may change your strategy throughout the simulation on the secret strategy
chart, but once you have visited a city and had your balance sheet checked, you may not change your
route.
Materials
Map of routes available
Country Products List
Balance Sheets (4 on a side, good for 4 days)
World Atlas
Secret Strategy Chart
Fuel and Dilemma Cards
Summary of Rules
1. Start in any city.
2. Begin with 10 empty containers and $3,000.
3. Travel for 16 simulated days.
4. Buying and selling only can happen at a capital city (indicated by a star).
5. All commodities must be bought and sold at the prices listed on the Country Products List.
6. You buy exports, you sell imports.
7. Your company may only buy four of any one commodity at the same city/time.
8. Your company may not add containers.
9. You must follow the routes on the map.
10. Your company must visit at least seven countries, but you may return to any country you have
already visited.
11. Any products left on your train on day sixteen will be deducted from your balance.
This simulation is adapted from Boxcars, a simulation produced by Interact
Fuel and Dilemma Cards
UNDERSTANDING THE USE OF FUEL
To get from one city to another you will need to use fuel. Each time you move from one city to another, one
unit of fuel will be exhausted. All truck routes take two units of fuel. One other route in the Indian Ocean
also takes two units of fuel. Companies can only purchase fuel at a non-capital city, where fuel is $100, or in
the capital city of a country that exports oil, in which case it is $75. Another option is to plan to visit Karachi
to purchase your fuel. Karachi is a fuel depot located in Pakistan, and is a major exporting terminal for fuel.
As a result, fuel is only $50 at this location. Keep this in mind when you are planning your strategy. A box
has been provided on your summary sheet for you to keep track of your fuel. If you get caught in a city
where you cannot buy fuel, your company will have to pay $200 per unit for the fuel.
YOUR COMPANY STARTS WITH TEN UNITS OF FUEL
COMPANY DILEMMA CARDS
During each game, every team will need to buy fuel. When a company decides to buy fuel, they must draw a
card from a stack of company dilemma cards. These cards can be helpful, harmful or have no impact at all to
your company. The company must follow the situation listed on the card. Make sure to document what has
happened on your balance sheet. The cards will last the remainder of the class period, simulated day or other
stated time frame as indicated on the card.