2nd Edition

ISBN: 9781947172364

Author: Steven A. Greenlaw; David Shapiro

Publisher: OpenStax

Textbook Question

Chapter 34, Problem 54CTQ

Trade has income distribution effects. For example, suppose that because of a government-negotiated reduction in trade barriers, trade between Germany and the Czech Republic increases. Germany sells house paint to the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic sells alarm clocks to Germany. Would you expect this pattern of trade to increase or decrease jobs and wages in the paint industry in Germany? The alarm clock industry in Germany? The paint industry in Czech Republic? The alarm clock industry in Czech Republic? What has to happen for there to be no increase in total unemployment in both countries?

Definition Video Definition Ability of a country to produce goods and services at a lower opportunity cost compared to other countries. Here, opportunity cost refers to the forgone units of one good in order to produce one more unit of another good. For example, the opportunity cost of producing good X in country A is 2Y and in country B is 1.25Y. Country B has a lower opportunity cost of producing good X than country A. Therefore, country B has a comparative advantage in the production of good X. Video

Expert Solution & Answer

Want to see the full answer?

Check out a sample textbook solution

See solution

Chapter 34, Problem 53CTQ

Chapter 34, Problem 55P

Students have asked these similar questions

Argentina and Brazil are considering the potential gains of trade. There is only one factor of production: labor. There are only two goods being produced in either economy: coffee and wine. Argentina can employ 10,000 hours of labor per month. Producing 1 lb. of coffee requires 2 hours of labor, and producing 1 bottle of wine requires 4 hours of labor, in Argentina. Similarly, Brazil can employ 10,000 hours of labor per month. Producing 1 lb. of coffee requires 1 hour of labor, and producing 1 bottle of wine requires 5 hours of labor, in Brazil. A). Which country has an absolute advantage in the production of coffee? B). Which country has an absolute advantage in the production of wine? C). Draw the Production Possibilities Frontier for the two countries.

Suppose Russia can produce automobiles relatively cheaply, but they have poor gas mileage and create a great deal of air pollution. The U.S. government, concerned about the quality of air, would like to see fewer Russian automobiles and more cleaner-running American automobiles on the road. What is the nature of the market failure that would justify the U.S. government taking some action against the importation of Russian automobiles? Explain why imposing a tariff is a second-best policy to employ in this case and what policy choice would be more efficient if: i) US carries out its own solution; ii) the two countries governments cooperate.

Consider the following model of trade between Home and Foreign. Assume throughout that those two countries are the only two countries in the world, at least for purposes of trade. There are two goods: Corn and Radio. Consumers always spend one-third of their income on Corn and the remainder on Radios. The only factor of production is labour. Each home country worker can produce 2 units of Corn or 3 units of Radios per unit of time, while each foreign worker can produce 2 units of Corn or 4 units of Radios per unit of time. There are 30 workers in Home and 60 workers in Foreign. Which country has a comparative advantage in Radios? In Corn?