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George Washington University *

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1011

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Economics

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Apr 3, 2024

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ECON 1011 Prof. Foster ©I. R. Foster 1 OPPORTUNITY COST AND TRADE AK Terms: Production Possibilities Frontier curve showing the maximum possible combinations of two products that can be produced with available resources and current technology . Productivity the amount of output produced with given one unit of an input Production Function equation that calculates the total amount of output that can be produced given productivity and a certain level of input Absolute Advantage the ability of an individual, firm or country to produce more of a good or service than competitors using the same resources . Comparative Advantage the ability of an individual, firm or country to produce a good or service at a lower opportunity cost than competitors . Autarky a situation of no trade between countries Specialization production of the good or service in which an individual, firm or country has a comparative advantage Terms of Trade - the rate of exchange of one good or service for another when two countries trade with each other. True/False: 1) Comparative advantage means the ability to produce a good or service at a lower opportunity cost than any other producer. True or False? 2) Specializing in the production of a good or service in which one has a comparative advantage enables a country to produce a combination of goods that lies outside its own production possibilities frontier. True or False? 3) Individuals who have never been the best at doing anything cannot have a comparative advantage in producing any product. True or False? 4) If Blake can pick more cherries in one hour than Cody, then Blake has a comparative advantage in cherry picking. True or False? 5) The basis for trade is absolute advantage, not comparative advantage. True or False? 6) If a country produces only two goods, then it is not possible to have a comparative advantage in the production of both those goods. True or False? 7) In a two-good, two country world, if one country has an absolute advantage in the production of both goods, it can still benefit by trading with the other country. True or False? 8) It is not possible to have a comparative advantage in producing a good or service without having an absolute advantage. True or False? Multiple Choice: 9) If you can produce more of something than others with the same resources, you have a comparative/absolute advantage.
ECON 1011 Prof. Foster ©I. R. Foster 2 Problems & Graphing Questions: 1) Only two goods are produced in an economy: tanks and wheat. The table below identifies six possible combinations of tanks and wheat that can be produced given the currently available production technology and resources. All resources are fully utilized. Combination Tanks Produced Per Year Bushels of Wheat Produced Per Year A 0 1,000,000 B 1,000 950,000 C 2,000 850,000 D 3,000 700,000 E 4,000 400,000 F 5,000 0 a) Draw a production possibilities frontier based on the information in the table above. Place tanks on the X axis and wheat on the Y axis. Label the axes and the six points correctly. b) Fill-in-the-blanks and circle the correct answers . The opportunity cost of moving from Point B to Point C is _ 100,000 _________ tanks/bushels of wheat. The opportunity cost of moving from Point D to Point E is __ 300,000 ________ tanks/bushels of wheat . This PPF depicts increasing/constant opportunity cost. Explain your choice. PPF is bowed out the opportunity cost of producing more of one good gets higher and higher c) Draw a new PPF on the graph to depict what would happen if there was an improvement in the technology for producing tanks. If the economy is originally at point D, would it now be able to produce more of wheat and tanks? Yes No
ECON 1011 Prof. Foster ©I. R. Foster 3 2) Consider the following data for the harvest of crabs versus the harvest of fish off the coast of Virginia: a) Graph the production possibilities frontier given in the table above with fish on the X axis and crabs on the Y axis. Label both axes and each of the combinations. b) If this economy is currently producing 30 crabs and 40 fish, is it possible for it to produce more of both? Yes, since the point is inside the PPF c) Explain how this economy might be able to produce 45 fish and 45 crabs? If there is an increase in resources or an improvement in technology d) Assume this economy could either be at Point B or Point C. From which of these points is it more costly to produce more crabs? Explain your answer. For each additional crab produced at point B, the opportunity cost is 1.33 fish. For each additional crab produced at point C, the opportunity cost is 2 fish. It is more costly to produce additional crabs from point C.
ECON 1011 Prof. Foster ©I. R. Foster 4 3) Suppose in the United States, the opportunity cost of producing a motor engine is 4 auto bodies. In Canada, the opportunity cost of producing a motor engine is 2 auto bodies. a. What is the opportunity cost of producing an auto body for the United States? ¼ of a motor engine b. What is the opportunity cost of producing an auto body for Canada? ½ of a motor engine c. Which country has a comparative advantage in the production of auto bodies? United States d. Which country has a comparative advantage in the production of motor engines? Canada 4) In Italy, an automobile can be produced by 8 workers in one day, and a washing machine by 3 workers in one day. In the United States, an automobile can be produced by 6 workers in one day, and a washing machine by 2 workers in one day. Assume each country has 48 workers. a) Which country has an absolute advantage in the production of automobiles? US it takes only 6 workers to produce an automobile in the US than in Italy where it takes 8 workers b) Which country has a comparative advantage in the production of washing machines? The opportunity cost of producing a washing machine in Italy is 0.375 automobiles (can calculate as 3 workers/8 workers, or 6 automobiles/16 automobiles) The opportunity cost of producing a washing machine in the US is 0.33 automobiles (can calculate as 2 workers/6 workers, or 8 automobiles/24 automobiles) Therefore the US has a comparative advantage in the production of washing machines 5) The figure below shows the production possibilities frontier for Vidalia, a nation that produces two goods, roses and orchids. Another way to show this information: Production Possibilities Frontier Country Orchids (dozens) Roses (Dozens) Vidalia 80 200
ECON 1011 Prof. Foster ©I. R. Foster 5 Another way to show this information: Production Possibilities Frontier Possibilities Orchids (dozens) Roses (Dozens) A 0 200 B 20 150 C 40 100 D 60 50 E 80 0 a) What is the opportunity cost of one dozen orchids? Specify units correctly. 2.5 dozen roses b) What is the opportunity cost of one dozen roses? Specify units correctly. 0.4 dozen orchids c) Suppose Vidalia is currently producing 20 dozen orchids per period. How many roses is it also producing, assuming that resources are fully utilized? Calculate this number . To produce 1 dozen orchids, 2.5 dozen roses are given up; so, to produce 20 dozen orchids, 50 dozen roses are given up. That means 200 - 50 = 150 dozen roses are being produced when 20 dozen orchids are also being produced. d) The linear production possibilities frontier indicates that the tradeoff between roses and orchids is constant/increasing . 6) Refer to the information provided in the table below to answer the questions that follow.
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