Concept explainers
The difference between
Explanation of Solution
Comparative advantage refers the ability of a nation to produce goods and services at a lower
Absolute advantage: Absolute advantage refers to the ability to produce a good using fewer inputs than another producer does.
Comparative advantage: Comparative advantage refers to the ability to produce a good at a lower opportunity cost than another producer.
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Chapter 2 Solutions
PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS(LOOSELEAF)
- A country may specialize in the production of a good that it can produce at a lower opportunity cost than its trading partners. Because of this comparative advantage, countries benefit when they specialize and trade with each other. The following graphs show the production possibilities curves (PPCs) for Freedonia and Sylvania. Both countries produce grain and tea, each initially (i.e., before specialization and trade) producing 24 million pounds of grain and 12 million pounds of tea, as indicated by the grey stars marked with the letter A. Freedonia has a comparative advantage in the production of , while Sylvania has a comparative advantage in the production of . Suppose that Freedonia and Sylvania specialize in the production of the goods in which each has a comparative advantage. After specialization, the two countries can produce a total of million pounds of tea and million pounds of grain. Suppose that Freedonia and Sylvania agree to trade. Each country focuses its…arrow_forwardA country may specialize in the production of a good that it can produce at a lower opportunity cost than its trading partners. Because of this comparative advantage, countries benefit when they specialize and trade with each other. The following graphs show the production possibilities curves (PPCs) for Candonia and Lamponia. Both countries produce grain and coffee, each initially (i.e., before specialization and trade) producing 12 million pounds of grain and 6 million pounds of coffee, as indicated by the grey stars marked with the letter A. 32 28 B COFFEE (Millions of pounds) 24 16 12 0 PPC 14 Candonia A 8 24 12 16 20 GRAIN (Millions of pounds) 28 32 ? COFFEE (Millions of pounds) 32 28 24 20 16 12 4 0 10 PPC 4 Lamponia A 4 11 8 12 16 20 24 GRAIN (Millions of pounds) 26 32 ?arrow_forwardJessica Alba, a famous actress, starts the baby and family products business, The Honest Company, with Christopher Gavigan. Alba and Gavigan set up their site so families can choose what kinds of non-toxic, all-natural products they'd like to use and get them in a bundle. Families can choose all kinds of products from food to hygiene necessities and cleaning supplies. Suppose they are thinking of expanding their business into five domestic markets: Phoenix, Dallas, Chicago, New York, and Atlanta. Assume their primary goal of business is to maximize economic profits, although they want to do business honestly.Show all your calculations and process. Describe your answer for each question in three- to five-complete sentences. You are a business adviser for Alba and Gavigan. Describe a skimming price and a penetration price, and advise them whether they should charge a skimming price or a penetration price, with supportive reasoning for and against each pricing alternative. Are they…arrow_forward
- Specialization and trade When a country has a comparative advantage in the production of a good, it means that it can produce this good at a lower opportunity cost than its trading partner. Then the country will specialize in the production of this good and trade it for other goods. The following graphs show the production possibilities frontiers (PPFs) for Shenandoah and Congaree. Both countries produce peas and lentils, each initially (i.e., before specialization and trade) producing 36 million pounds of peas and 18 million pounds of lentils, as indicated by the grey stars marked with the letter A. Shenandoah has a comparative advantage in the production of PEAS or LENTILS or NEITHER PEAS OR LENTILS or BOTH PEAS AND LENTILS. while Congaree has a comparative advantage in the production of PEAS or LENTILS or NEITHER PEAS OR LENTILS or BOTH PEAS AND LENTILS. Suppose that Shenandoah and Congaree specialize in the production of the goods in which each has a comparative…arrow_forwardWhen a country specializes in the production of a good, this means that it can produce this good at a lower opportunity cost than its trading partner. Because of this comparative advantage, both countries benefit when they specialize and trade with each other. The following graphs show the production possibilities frontiers (PPFS) for Freedonia and Sylvania. Both countries produce lemons and sugar, each initially (i.e., before specialization and trade) producing 24 million pounds of lemons and 12 million pounds of sugar, as indicated by the grey stars marked with the letter A. SUGAR (Millions of pounds) 64 56 48 40 32 24 16 8 0 0 PPF 1 Freedonia 24, 12 8 16 24 32 40 48 LEMONS (Millions of pounds) 56 64 (?) SUGAR (Millions of pounds) 64 56 48 40 32 24 16 8 0 PPF 0 8 Sylvania A 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 LEMONS (Millions of pounds) (?) Freedonia has a comparative advantage in the production of while Sylvania has a comparative advantage in the production of . Suppose that Freedonia and Sylvania…arrow_forwardQ58 Suppose Spain is currently producing 90 units of wine and 10 units of cheese, but to produce 10 more units of cheese it must sacrifice 30 units of wine. Further, suppose that Portugal produces 45 units of wine and 45 units of cheese, but to produce 10 more units of cheese it must sacrifice only 10 units of wine. It can be concluded that... a. More information is needed to conclude anything about comparative advantage in either country. b. Portugal has an absolute advantage in wine production and Spain has an absolute advantage in cheese production. c. Spain has a comparative advantage in the production of wine and Portugal has a comparative advantage in the production of cheese. d. Spain has an absolute advantage in both wine and cheese production. e. Portugal has an absolute advantage in both wine and cheese production.arrow_forward
- When a country has a comparative advantage in the production of a good, it means that it can produce this good at a lower opportunity cost than its trading partner. Then the country will specialize in the production of this good and trade it for other goods. The following graphs show the production possibilities frontiers (PPFS) for Yosemite and Congares. Both countries produce corn and lentils, each initially (ie, before specialization and trade) producing 6 million pounds of corn and 3 million pounds of lentils, as indicated by the grey stars marked with the letter A. LENTILS (MEns of pounds 0 0 194 2 Yout 4 10 CORN (Mof pounds) 14 16 LENTILS (Mons of pounds 0 2 Yosemite has a comparative advantage in the production of production of comparative advantage. After specialization, the two countries can produce a total of comm. Conger L 10 12 COHN (Mof pounds) 14 16 (?) conn while Congaree has a comparative advantage in the -Suppose that Yosemite and Congaree specialize in the production…arrow_forwardWhen a country specializes in the production of a good, this means that it can produce this good at a lower opportunity cost than its trading partner. Because of this comparative advantage, both countries benefit when they specialize and trade with each other. The following graphs show the production possibilities frontiers (PPFS) for Freedonia and Sylvania. Both countries produce potatoes and tea, each initially (i.e., before specialization and trade) producing 12 million pounds of potatoes and 6 million pounds of tea, as indicated by the grey stars marked with the letter A. Freedonia Sylvania 32 32 28 28 24 PPF 24 20 20 16 16 12 12 PPF 8 8 4 4 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 POTATOES (Millions of pounds) POTATOES (Millions of pounds) Freedonia has a comparative advantage in the production of while Sylvania has a comparative advantage in the production of Suppose that Freedonia and Sylvania specialize in the production of the goods in which each has a comparative…arrow_forwardHow do comparative advantage and absolute advantage differ? Absolute advantage means more can be made given the resources while comparative advantage means the good may be made cheaper given the other items that could also be produced. Absolute advantages is a relative concept when comparing production of different items, and comparative advantage means a country is better at at one particular good. Comparative advantage implies a country is better at producing everything better than another country and absolute advantage means they're better at a few things. Comparative advantage refers to production of agricultural goods while absolute advantage refers to industrial production.arrow_forward
- When a country has a comparative advantage in the production of a good, it means that it can produce this good at a lower opportunity cost than its trading partner. Then the country will specialize in the production of this good and trade it for other goods. The following graphs show the production possibilities frontiers (PPFS) for Candonia and Lamponia. Both countries produce grain and sugar, each initially (i.e., before specialization and trade) producing 24 million pounds of grain and 12 million pounds of sugar, as indicated by the grey stars marked with the letter A. SUGAR (Millions of pounds) 64 56 48 PPF 40 32 24 16 8 0 0 8 Candonia 16 24 32 40 48 GRAIN (Millions of pounds) 56 64 (?) SUGAR (Millions of pounds) 64 56 48 40 32 24 16 8 0 PPF ———— 0 8 Lamponia A 16 24 32 40 48 GRAIN (Millions of pounds) 56 64 ? Candonia has a comparative advantage in the production of sugar while Lamponia has a comparative advantage in the grain production of ▼ . Suppose that Candonia and Lamponia…arrow_forwardQ2. Suppose that there are two countries (A and B) and two goods (a labor-intensive good X, textile, and a capital-intensive good Y, electronics). The two countries have identical demand for the two goods but different labor and capital endowments. Suppose (Px/Py)A < (Px/Py)B in autarky. Identify the capital-abundant country and the labor-abundant country, respectively. Use a PPF-indifference-curve graph to identify the autarky equilibrium for country B. In the same graph, show country B's gains from trade when the two countries trade at a level of Px/Py that is between the two countries' autarky price ratios. In the above graph, identify the trade triangle (including export and import quantities) for country B. What would be the effect of trade on country B's relative nominal wage rate, i.e., the ratio of nominal wage rate relative to nominal capital rental rate (w/r)? Illustrate your answer graphically. Your answer:arrow_forwardWhen a country has a comparative advantage in the production of a good, it means that it can produce this good at a lower opportunity cost than its trading partner. Then the country will specialize in the production of this good and trade it for other goods. The following graphs show the production possibilities frontiers (PPFs) for Candonia and Lamponia. Both countries produce potatoes and sugar, each initially (i.e., before specialization and trade) producing 24 million pounds of potatoes and 12 million pounds of sugar, as indicated by the grey stars marked with the letter A. * FIRST PICTURE HERE Candonia has a comparative advantage in the production of , while Lamponia has a comparative advantage in the production of . Suppose that Candonia and Lamponia specialize in the production of the goods in which each has a comparative advantage. After specialization, the two countries can produce a total of -- million pounds of potatoes and -- million pounds of sugar. Suppose…arrow_forward
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