The Box

1. I thought the part about how WWII created high demand while also lowering the amount of economic competition. I found it interesting to know more about how far the effects of war an reach into other sectors of the world, especially on the economic side.
2. I think the author sees the container as being essential to the globalization of the world economy. Its versatility has allowed more goods to be shipped to more places more efficiently. The sheer effect it has had on shipping has created a more unified product dispersion that has helped connect all the corners of the globe.
3. In the short run, the shipping container has increased both imports and exports so that effect would be negated. But the increased amounts of both would cause an increase in consumption which would in turn drive up the GDP.  In the long run it would probably drive up he GDP due to the increased global trade which is essential for increasing the GDPs of countries around the world.