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International Trade - Theory and Policy, 2010a

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Question: How do you know that the chosen production points are on the country’s PPF?<br />

Answer: To verify that a point is on the PPF, we can simply plug the quantities into the PPF equation to<br />

see if it is satisfied. The PPF formula is aLCQC + aLWQW = L. If we plug the exogenous variables for the<br />

United States into the formula, we get QC + 2QW = 24. Plugging in the production point from Table 2.8<br />

"Autarky Production <strong>and</strong> Consumption" yields 16 + 2(4) = 24, <strong>and</strong> since 16 + 8 = 24, the production point<br />

must lie on the PPF.<br />

Ricardo argued that trade gains could arise if countries first specialized in their comparative advantage<br />

good <strong>and</strong> then traded with the other country. Specialization in the example means that the United States<br />

produces only cheese <strong>and</strong> no wine, while France produces only wine <strong>and</strong> no cheese. These quantities are<br />

shown in Table 2.9 "Production with Specialization in the Comparative Advantage Good". Also shown are the<br />

world totals for each of the goods.<br />

Figure 2.4 Autarky Equilibriums<br />

Table 2.9 Production with Specialization in the Comparative Advantage Good<br />

Cheese (lbs.) Wine (gals.)<br />

United States 24 0<br />

France 0 8<br />

World Total 24 8<br />

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

Saylor.org<br />

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