Interdependence and
the Gains from Trade
Chapter 3
Interdependence and Trade
Consider your necessary items in a typical day:
Computer/laptop
Mobile phone
Dress material
Food
Vehicle
Etc.,
Interdependence and Trade
Remember, economics is the
study of how societies produce
and distribute goods in an
attempt to satisfy the wants and
needs of its members.
How do we satisfy our wants and
needs in a global economy?
We can be economically self-
sufficient.
We can specialize and trade with
others, leading to economic
interdependence.
Interdependence and Trade
A general observation . . .
Individuals and nations rely on
specialized production and
exchange as a way to address
problems caused by scarcity.
Interdependence and Trade
But, this gives rise to two questions:
Why is interdependence the norm?
What determines production and trade?
Why is interdependence the
norm?
Interdependence occurs because
people are better off when they
specialize and trade with others.
What determines the pattern of
production and trade?
Patterns of production and trade
are based upon differences in
opportunity costs.
A Parable for the Modern
Economy
Imagine . . .
¼ only two goods: potatoes and meat
¼ only two people: a potato farmer and a
cattle rancher
What should each produce?
Why should they trade?
The Production Opportunities of
the Farmer and the Rancher
Self-Sufficiency
By ignoring each other:
Each consumes what they each produce.
The production possibilities frontier is also the
consumption possibilities frontier.
Without trade, economic gains are
diminished.
Production Possibilities
Frontiers
Meat
(kgs) (a) The Farmer’s Production
Possibilities Frontier
8
A
4
0 16 32 Potatoes (kgs)
Production Possibilities
Meat
(kgs)
24 Frontiers
(b) The Rancher’s Production
Possibilities Frontier
B
12
0 24 48 Potatoes (kgs)
The Farmer and the Rancher
Specialize and Trade
Each would be better off if they specialized
in producing the product they are more
suited to produce, and then trade with each
other.
The farmer should produce potatoes.
The rancher should produce meat.
The Principle of
Comparative Advantage
Differences in the costs of
production determine the following:
Who should produce what?
How much should be traded for each
product?
Who can produce potatoes at a lower
cost--the farmer or the rancher?
Differences in Costs of
Production
Two ways to measure differences
in costs of production:
The number of hours required to produce a
unit of output. (for example, one kg
potatoes)
The opportunity cost of sacrificing one good
for another.
Absolute Advantage
Describes the productivity of one
person, firm, or nation compared to
that of another.
The producer that requires a smaller
quantity of inputs to produce a good is
said to have an absolute advantage in
producing that good.
Comparative Advantage
Compares producers of a good
according to their opportunity cost.
The producer who has the smaller
opportunity cost of producing a good
is said to have a comparative
advantage in producing that good.
Specialization and Trade
Who has the absolute advantage?
The farmer or the rancher?
Who has the comparative advantage?
The farmer or the rancher?
Absolute Advantage
The Rancher needs only 10 minutes to
produce a kg of potatoes, whereas the
Farmer needs 15min.
The Rancher needs only 20 min to
produce a kg of meat, whereas the
Farmer needs 60min.
The Rancher has an absolute
advantage in the production of both
meat and potatoes: Input cost is low.
The Opportunity Cost
of Meat and Potatoes
Opportunity cost of
1kg of Meat 1kg of potatoes
Farmer 4kg P ¼ kg M
Rancher 2kg P ½ kg M
Comparative Advantage
…so, the Rancher has a
comparative advantage in the
production of meat but the
Farmer has a comparative
advantage in the production
of potatoes.
The Principle of
Comparative Advantage
Comparative advantage and differences
in opportunity costs are the basis for
specialized production and trade.
Whenever potential trading parties have
differences in opportunity costs, they can
each benefit from trade.
Benefits of Trade
Trade can benefit everyone in a
society because it allows people
to specialize in activities in
which they have a comparative
advantage.
Adam Smith and Trade
In his 1776 book An Inquiry into the
Nature and Causes of the Wealth of
Nations, Adam Smith performed a
detailed analysis of trade and economic
interdependence, which economists still
adhere to today.
David Ricardo and Trade
In his 1816 book Principles of Political
Economy and Taxation, David Ricardo
developed the principle of comparative
advantage as we know it today.
Should SRK Mow his His Own
Lawn ?
?
? ?
Summary
Interdependence and trade allow
people to enjoy a greater quantity
and variety of goods and services.
Summary
The person who can produce a good
with a smaller quantity of inputs has
an absolute advantage.
The person with a smaller
opportunity cost has a comparative
advantage.
Summary
The gains from trade are based on
comparative advantage, not absolute
advantage.
Comparative advantage applies to
countries as well as to people.
