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International Trade - Theory and Policy, 2010a

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The U.S. autarky production <strong>and</strong> consumption points are determined where the aggregate indifference<br />

curve is tangent to the U.S. PPF. This occurs at the red point A. The United States realizes a level of<br />

aggregate utility that corresponds to the indifference curve IAut.<br />

The U.S. production <strong>and</strong> consumption points in free trade are at the red P <strong>and</strong> C, respectively. The United<br />

States specializes in production of its comparative advantage good but trades to achieve its consumption<br />

point at the red C. In free trade, the United States realizes a level of aggregate utility that corresponds to<br />

the indifference curve IFT. Since the free trade indifference curve IFT lies to the northeast of the autarky<br />

indifference curve IAut, national welfare rises as the United States moves to free trade.<br />

France’s autarky production <strong>and</strong> consumption points are determined by finding the aggregate<br />

indifference curve that is tangent to the French PPF. This occurs at the green point A∗. France realizes a<br />

level of aggregate utility that corresponds to the indifference curve IAut∗.<br />

French production <strong>and</strong> consumption points in free trade are the green P∗ <strong>and</strong> C∗, respectively. In free<br />

trade, France realizes a level of aggregate utility that corresponds to the indifference curve IFT∗. Since the<br />

free trade indifference curve IFT∗ lies to the northeast of the autarky indifference curve IAut∗, national<br />

welfare rises as France moves to free trade.<br />

KEY TAKEAWAYS<br />

<br />

National welfare can be represented with a set of aggregate indifference curves plotted in a PPF diagram.<br />

Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/books<br />

Saylor.org<br />

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