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International Trade - Theory and Policy, 2010a

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For example, the Ricardian model of trade, which incorporates differences in technologies between<br />

countries, concludes that everyone benefits from trade, whereas the Heckscher-Ohlin model, which<br />

incorporates endowment differences, concludes that there will be winners <strong>and</strong> losers from trade. Change<br />

the basis for trade <strong>and</strong> you may change the outcomes from trade.<br />

In the real world, trade takes place because of a combination of all these different reasons. Each single<br />

model provides only a glimpse of some of the effects that might arise. Consequently, we should expect that<br />

a combination of the different outcomes that are presented in different models is the true characterization<br />

of the real world. Unfortunately, because of this, underst<strong>and</strong>ing the complexities of the real world is still<br />

more of an art than a science.<br />

KEY TAKEAWAYS<br />

<br />

The five main reasons international trade takes place are differences in technology, differences in<br />

resource endowments, differences in dem<strong>and</strong>, the presence of economies of scale, <strong>and</strong> the presence of<br />

government policies.<br />

<br />

Each model of trade generally includes just one motivation for trade.<br />

EXERCISES<br />

1. List the five reasons why international trade takes place.<br />

2. Identify which model incorporates<br />

1. differences in technology,<br />

2. presence of economies of scale,<br />

3. differences in dem<strong>and</strong>,<br />

4. differences in endowments.<br />

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

Saylor.org<br />

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