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International Trade - Theory and Policy, 2010a

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7. Of increase, decrease, or stay the same, this is the effect on the capital-labor ratio in the wine<br />

industry when wages increase in a variable proportions H-O model, if wine is a capitalintensive<br />

industry.<br />

8. Of increase, decrease, or stay the same, this is the effect on the capital-labor ratio in an<br />

industry when wages fall in a fixed proportions H-O model.<br />

5.9 The Heckscher-Ohlin Theorem<br />

LEARNING OBJECTIVES<br />

1. Learn the Heckscher-Ohlin theorem highlighting the determinants of the pattern of<br />

trade.<br />

2. Identify the effects of trade on prices <strong>and</strong> outputs using a PPF diagram.<br />

The Heckscher-Ohlin (H-O) theorem states that a country that is capital abundant will export the capitalintensive<br />

good. Likewise, the country that is labor abundant will export the labor-intensive good. Each<br />

country exports that good that it produces relatively better than the other country. In this model, a<br />

country’s advantage in production arises solely from its relative factor abundancy.<br />

The H-O Theorem Graphical Depiction: Variable Proportions<br />

The H-O model assumes that the two countries (United States <strong>and</strong> France) have identical technologies,<br />

meaning they have the same production functions available to produce steel <strong>and</strong> clothing. The model also<br />

assumes that the aggregate preferences are the same across countries. The only difference that exists<br />

between the two countries in the model is a difference in resource endowments. We assume that the<br />

United States has relatively more capital per worker in the aggregate than does France. This means that<br />

the United States is capital abundant compared to France. Similarly, France, by implication, has more<br />

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

Saylor.org<br />

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