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International Trade - Theory and Policy, 2010a

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Income is redistributed among individuals within the economy—this is shown by applying the magnification effect<br />

for prices to the price changes that arise in moving from autarky to free trade. It is shown that the real income of a<br />

country’s relatively abundant factor rises while the real income of a country’s relatively scarce factor falls.<br />

A reasonable question at this juncture, then, is whether the gains to some individuals exceed the losses to<br />

others <strong>and</strong>, if so, whether it is possible to redistribute income to ensure that everyone is absolutely better<br />

off with trade than he or she was in autarky. In other words, is it possible for the winners from free trade<br />

to compensate the losers in such a way that everyone is left better off than he or she was in autarky?<br />

The answer to this is yes in most circumstances. The primary reason is that the move to free trade<br />

improves production <strong>and</strong> consumption efficiency, which can make it possible for the country to consume<br />

more of both goods with trade compared to autarky.<br />

Consider Figure 5.10 "Compensation in the H-O Model". Point A on the PPF represents the autarky<br />

production <strong>and</strong> consumption point for this economy. The shaded region represents the set of<br />

consumption points that provides at least as much of one good <strong>and</strong> more of the other relative to the<br />

autarky equilibrium. Suppose that in free trade production moves to P1 <strong>and</strong> consumption moves to C1.<br />

Since C1 lies within the shaded region, the country consumes more clothing <strong>and</strong> more steel in the<br />

aggregate than it had consumed in autarky. However, in moving from autarky to free trade, some factors<br />

have experienced increases in income, while others have suffered losses. This means that some<br />

individuals consume less of both goods in free trade, while others consume more of both goods.<br />

Figure 5.10 Compensation in the H-O Model<br />

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

Saylor.org<br />

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