Economists identify three types of movements or flows within international economic exchanges:

First, the flow of trade, which in the nineteenth century referred largely to trade in goods such as cloth or wheat. An example involving India is the Hyderabadi Sindhi traders who, from the 1860s, established flourishing emporia at busy ports worldwide. They sold local and imported curios to tourists whose numbers were increasing due to the development of safe and comfortable passenger vessels.

Second, the flow of labour, which means the migration of people in search of employment. An example involving India is indentured Indian labourers who were taken to work in the Caribbean. These labourers migrated under contracts to work on plantations.

Third, the movement of capital for short-term or long-term investments over long distances. An example involving Indians is the Shikaripuri Shroffs and Nattukottai Chettiars, who were among the many groups of bankers and traders. They financed export agriculture in Central and Southeast Asia using either their own funds or those borrowed from European banks. They had a sophisticated system to transfer money over large distances and even developed indigenous forms of corporate organisation.

All three flows were closely interwoven and affected people's lives more deeply than ever before.