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International Trade - Theory and Policy, 2010a

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choices become available. When multiple varieties of goods are available in a product category, as in the<br />

monopolistic competition model, then consumption efficiency improvements can mean that the consumer<br />

is able to consume greater varieties or is able to purchase a variety that is closer to his ideal.<br />

Although improvements in consumption efficiency are easy to describe for an individual consumer, it is<br />

much more difficult to describe consumption efficiency conceptually for the aggregate economy.<br />

Nevertheless, when aggregate indifference curves are used to describe the gains from trade, it is possible<br />

to portray an aggregate consumption efficiency improvement. One must be careful to interpret this<br />

properly, though. The use of an aggregate indifference curve requires the assumptions that (1) all<br />

consumers have identical preferences <strong>and</strong> (2) there is no redistribution of income as a result of the<br />

changes in the economy. We have seen, however, that in most trade models income redistribution will<br />

occur as an economy moves to free trade, <strong>and</strong> it may be impossible to redistribute afterward. It is also<br />

likely that individuals have different preferences for goods, which also weakens the results using<br />

aggregate indifference curves.<br />

KEY TAKEAWAYS<br />

<br />

The main sources of support for free trade are the positive production <strong>and</strong> consumption efficiency effects<br />

that arise in numerous models when countries trade freely.<br />

<br />

Production efficiency improvements mean that countries produce more goods <strong>and</strong> services with the same<br />

amount of resources.<br />

<br />

Consumption efficiency improvements mean that countries consume a more satisfying mix of goods <strong>and</strong><br />

services.<br />

EXERCISE<br />

1. Jeopardy Questions. As in the popular television game show, you are given an answer to a<br />

question <strong>and</strong> you must respond with the question. For example, if the answer is “a tax on<br />

imports,” then the correct question is “What is a tariff?”<br />

1. The term often used as a synonym for an improvement in economic efficiency.<br />

2. The type of efficiency improvement in which productivity rises for the given resource<br />

endowments available for use in production.<br />

3. The type of efficiency improvement relating to consumer choice adjustments in response to a<br />

policy change.<br />

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

Saylor.org<br />

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