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Country R and country S are going to trade 1 unit of product X for 21 unit of product Y.With a given amount of resources: country R can produce either 30 units of product X or 50 units of product Y country S can produce either 20 units of product X or 25 units of product Y.Which statement is correct, according to the theory of comparative advantage?A Free trade will benefit both R and S.B Free trade will benefit neither R nor S.C Free trade will benefit R but not S.D Free trade will benefit S but not R

Question

Country R and country S are going to trade 1 unit of product X for 21 unit of product Y.With a given amount of resources: country R can produce either 30 units of product X or 50 units of product Y country S can produce either 20 units of product X or 25 units of product Y.Which statement is correct, according to the theory of comparative advantage?A Free trade will benefit both R and S.B Free trade will benefit neither R nor S.C Free trade will benefit R but not S.D Free trade will benefit S but not R

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Solution

The theory of comparative advantage suggests that a country should specialize in producing and exporting only those goods and services which it can produce more efficiently (at a lower opportunity cost) than other goods and services (which it should import).

To determine which country has a comparative advantage in which product, we need to calculate the opportunity cost of producing one unit of each product in each country.

For country R:

  • The opportunity cost of producing 1 unit of product X is 50/30 = 1.67 units of product Y.
  • The opportunity cost of producing 1 unit of product Y is 30/50 = 0.6 units of product X.

For country S:

  • The opportunity cost of producing 1 unit of product X is 25/20 = 1.25 units of product Y.
  • The opportunity cost of producing 1 unit of product Y is 20/25 = 0.8 units of product X.

Comparing these opportunity costs, we can see that:

  • Country R has a comparative advantage in producing product Y (because it gives up less to produce it), and
  • Country S has a comparative advantage in producing product X (because it gives up less to produce it).

Therefore, according to the theory of comparative advantage, free trade will benefit both R and S, as they can each specialize in producing the product in which they have a comparative advantage and trade with each other. So, the correct answer is A: Free trade will benefit both R and S.

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Similar Questions

The theory of comparative advantage demonstrates that even if a country is less efficient than another in producing all goods, it can still benefit from trade by specializing in the production of the good in which it has:  A. The highest absolute advantage  B. The lowest opportunity cost  C. The highest total production  D. The lowest absolute cost

When two countries with different opportunity costs engage in trade based on comparative advantage, the result is:  A. Both countries experiencing increased production and consumption  B. Both countries producing only goods they have an absolute advantage in  C. Both countries experiencing decreased production  D. Both countries producing the same goods

Economic theory suggest which of the following is true regarding comparative advantage and absolute advantage?Question 9Select one:a.when a country has an absolute advantage in producing two goods, it will also have a comparative advantage in producing those goods.b.a country gains economically if it concentrates its efforts in those economic activities where it has the greatest advantage or the least disadvantage, and then trades with other countries for those goods it doesn’t.c.a country with an absolute advantage in producing all goods will be better off by producing all goods in equal quantity.d.comparative advantage has nothing to do with determining what a country should produce.e.comparative and absolute advantage mean the same thing in international trade.

In general, when there is free trade and nations produce and export goods and services for which they have comparative advantage, the global economy is better off.Absolute Advantage means that one nation (or individual) can produce more of a good or service than another. Another way of looking at it is to say that one nation (or individual) can produce a good or service using fewer inputs than another uses.Comparative Advantage, in contrast, looks at the opportunity cost a nation (or individual) experiences when producing a good. When one item is produced, something else is given up – but how much? For example, if a nation produces only pickup trucks and pineapples, comparative advantage depends on how many pickup trucks are given up to produce a unit of pineapples, and vice versa. Comparative advantage helps us determine whether it is beneficial for two nations or individuals to specialize and trade.

The basic theory of comparative advantage implies that trade will be Blank______-industry in nature.Multiple choice question.interintra

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