宏观经济学原理与应用（第二版）教学配套课件罗伯特.E.霍尔comparative_advantage.pdfVIP

Comparative Advantage and the Gains from International Trade Slides by: John Pamela Hall ECONOMICS: Principles and Applications 3e HALL LIEBERMAN © 2005 Thomson Business and Professional Publishing Comparative Advantage and the Gains from International Trade • Consumers love bargains • Should we let these bargain goods into the country? – Do cheap foreign goods threaten the jobs of American workers and the profits of American producers? • Over the post-World War II period, there has been a worldwide movement toward a policy of free trade – In 1995 a new international body was created • World Trade Organization (WTO) 2 Comparative Advantage and the Gains from International Trade • While many barriers have come down, others are being put up • Poor countries have imposed tariffs on computers, semiconductors, and software exported by rich countries – Rich countries have announced their intention to maintain existing quotas on textiles and clothing sold by poor countries • Is free international trade a good thing that makes us better off – Or is it bad and something that should be kept in check? 3 The Logic of Free Trade • Many of us like the idea of being self-reliant – But consider the defects of self-sufficiency • If you lived all by yourself, you would be poor • Defects of self-sufficiency explain why most people do not choose it • Principle applies not just to individuals, but also to groups of individuals – Such as those living within boundaries that define cities, countries, states, or nations • What would happen if residents of your state switched