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International Trade - Theory and Policy, 2010a

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2.5 Definitions: Absolute <strong>and</strong> Comparative<br />

Advantage<br />

LEARNING OBJECTIVES<br />

1. Learn how to define labor productivity <strong>and</strong> opportunity cost within the context of the<br />

Ricardian model.<br />

2. Learn to identify <strong>and</strong> distinguish absolute advantage <strong>and</strong> comparative advantage.<br />

3. Learn to identify comparative advantage via two methods: (1) by comparing<br />

opportunity costs <strong>and</strong> (2) by comparing relative productivities.<br />

The basis for trade in the Ricardian model is differences in technology between countries. Below we define<br />

two different ways to describe technology differences. The first method, called absolute advantage, is the<br />

way most people underst<strong>and</strong> technology differences. The second method, called comparative advantage, is<br />

a much more difficult concept. As a result, even those who learn about comparative advantage often will<br />

confuse it with absolute advantage. It is quite common to see misapplications of the principle of<br />

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

Saylor.org<br />

88

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