Suppose that Austria and Belgium have the unit labour requirements for producing steel and brooms shown in the table below. Unit labour requirements Steel Brooms Then: a) Belgium has a comparative advantage in brooms. b) Austria has a comparative advantage in brooms. c) Austria has an absolute advantage in brooms. d) Belgium has an absolute advantage in steel. Austria Belgium 3 8 2 1

Brazil can produce 100 pounds of beef or 10 autos. In contrast the United States can produce 40 pounds of beef or 30 autos. Which country has the absolute advantage in beef? Which country has the absolute advantage in producing autos? What is the opportunity cost of producing one pound of beef In Brazil? What is the opportunity cost of producing one pound of beef in the United States?

How does comparative advantage lead to gains from trade?

Under what conditions does comparative advantage lead to gains from trade?

In Germany it takes three workers to make one television and four workers to make one video camera. In Poland It takes six workers to make one television and 12 workers to make one video camera. Who has the absolute advantage in the production of televisions? Who has the absolute advantage in the production of video cameras? How can you tell? Calculate the opportunity cost of producing one additional television set in Germany and In Poland. (Your calculation may involve fractions, which Is tine.) Which country has a comparative advantage in the production of televisions? Calculate the opportunity cost of producing one video camera in Germany and in Poland. Which country has a comparative advantage in the production of video cameras? In this example, is absolute advantage the same as comparative advantage, or not? In what product should Germany specialize? In what product should Poland specialize?

Why might intra-industry trade seem surprising from the point of view of comparative advantage?

In France it takes one worker to produce one sweater, and one worker to produce one bottle of wine. In Tunisia it takes two workers to produce one sweater, and three workers to produce one bottle of wine. Who has the absolute advantage in production of sweaters? Who has the absolute advantage in the production of wine? How can you tell?

Can a nations comparative advantage change over time? What factors would make it change?