How does comparative advantage lead to gains from trade?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Due to exchange opportunities and higher total output and level of consumption, comparative advantage lead to gain from trade.

Step by step solution

01

Step 1. Meaning of comparative advantage.

It is an economy's ability to produce a particular good or services at a lower opportunity cost than its trading partners. Basically, comparative advantage refers to the products that a country can produce more cheaply or easily than other countries.

02

Step 2. Following are the ways by which comparative advantage lead to gains from trade, these are:-

a) Due to this comparative advantage, this lead to results in exchange opportunities that lead to consumption opportunities beyond the PPC.

b) Due to the trade between two countries or agents, it allows the countries to enjoy a higher total output and level of consumption than what would have been possible domestically.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Do consumers benefit from intra-industry trade?

In France it takes one worker to produce one sweater, and one worker to produce one bottle of wine. In Tunisia it takes two workers to produce one sweater, and three workers to produce one bottle of wine. Who has the absolute advantage in production of sweaters? Who has the absolute advantage in the production of wine? How can you tell?

If the removal of trade barriers is so beneficial to international economic growth, why would a nation continue to restrict trade on some imported or exported products?

In Germany, it takes three workers to make one television and four workers to make one video camera. In Poland, it takes six workers to make one television and workers to make one video camera.

(a) Who has the absolute advantage in the production of televisions? Who has the absolute advantage in the production of video cameras? How can you tell?

(b) Calculate the opportunity cost of producing one additional television set in Germany and in Poland. (Your calculation may involve fractions, which is fine.) Which country has a comparative advantage in the production of televisions?

(c) Calculate the opportunity cost of producing one video camera in Germany and in Poland. Which country has a comparative advantage in the production of video cameras?

(d) In this example, is the absolute advantage the same as comparative advantage, or not?

(e) In what product should Germany specialize? In what product should Poland specialize?

Why might a low-income country put up barriers to trade, such as tariffs on imports?

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