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International Trade - Theory and Policy, 2010a

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2.3 Ricardian Model Assumptions<br />

LEARNING OBJECTIVE<br />

1. Learn the structure <strong>and</strong> assumptions that describe the Ricardian model of comparative<br />

advantage.<br />

The Ricardian model shows the possibility that an industry in a developed country could compete against<br />

an industry in a less-developed country (LDC) even though the LDC industry pays its workers much lower<br />

wages.<br />

The modern version of the Ricardian model assumes that there are two countries producing two goods<br />

using one factor of production, usually labor. The model is a general equilibrium model in which all<br />

markets (i.e., goods <strong>and</strong> factors) are perfectly competitive. The goods produced are assumed to be<br />

homogeneous across countries <strong>and</strong> firms within an industry. Goods can be costlessly shipped between<br />

countries (i.e., there are no transportation costs). Labor is homogeneous within a country but may have<br />

different productivities across countries. This implies that the production technology is assumed to differ<br />

across countries. Labor is costlessly mobile across industries within a country but is immobile across<br />

countries. Full employment of labor is also assumed. Consumers (the laborers) are assumed to maximize<br />

utility subject to an income constraint.<br />

Below you will find a more complete description of each assumption along with a mathematical<br />

formulation of the model.<br />

Perfect Competition<br />

Perfect competition in all markets means that the following conditions are assumed to hold.<br />

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

Saylor.org<br />

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