The document provides an overview of international trade, focusing on the theories of absolute and comparative advantage. It explains how countries specialize in producing goods based on their efficiency and the benefits of free trade, such as increased production and market competition. Additionally, it discusses the limitations and assumptions of these theories, emphasizing their real-world relevance.

1. Absolute & Comparative advantage
by: Shadi A. Razak 1
International Trade

2. Objectives
• Understand International and free trade
• Explain the theory of absolute advantage
• Explain the theory of comparative advantage
• Understand the sources of comparative
advantage
• Discuss the real-world relevance and
limitations of comparative advantage theory
by: Shadi A. Razak 2

3. Structure
• Introduction
• Free Trade
• Absolute Advantage
• Comparative Advantage
• Real Life Limitations
by: Shadi A. Razak 3

4. by: Shadi A. Razak 4
INTRODUCTION
Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Olaus_Magnus_-_On_Trade_Without_Using_Money.jpg/640px-Olaus_Magnus_-_On_Trade_Without_Using_Money.jpg

5. Trade
• Transfer of the ownership of goods or services
from one person or entity to another in
exchange for other goods or services or for
money
by: Shadi A. Razak 5
INTRODUCTION
Source: http://ecodaily.org/wp-
content/uploads/2015/02/Carbon_trading_Hero.jpg

6. Trade
• Where it take place?
by: Shadi A. Razak 6
INTRODUCTION
Source: http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-
s/01/2d/01/35/interior-of-market-hall.jpg
Source: http://maps.ucla.edu/photos/locations/large/L83994_201203151334.jpg

7. Trade
• According to the market:
– Domestic (Internal)
– International (External)
by: Shadi A. Razak 7
INTRODUCTION
Source:
http://www.sacramentolifestyle.com/Farmers_Market/Farmers_
Market_1.jpg
Source:
https://thebusinessethicsblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/trad
e-ethics.jpeg

8. Domestic vs. International
by: Shadi A. Razak 8
INTRODUCTION
Characteristics Domestic International
Currency Same Different
Demand
Limited due to
population
Grows with world
population
Communication
Same culture and
language
Different cultures and
languages
Mobility of
Production factors
Unrestricted Restricted

9. What is it?
• Trade free from artificial barriers
• Trade flows between countries
• Reflects the impact of:
– Specialisation
– Exchange
by: Shadi A. Razak 9
INTRODUCTION FREE TRADE

10. Specialisation
• A country specialised in using it’s scarce
resources and production factors efficiently
• Country concentration to produce one or few
goods and services efficiently (at a low cost)
• Example
by: Shadi A. Razak 10
INTRODUCTION FREE TRADE

11. Exchange
• Some countries are more efficient at producing
certain goods and services than others.
• Countries exchange both types of goods and
services (efficient and none efficient)
• Factors endowment govern the exchange
decisions
by: Shadi A. Razak 11
INTRODUCTION FREE TRADE
Source: http://europedraughts.org/wp-
content/uploads/2012/05/swiss_flag.jpg

12. Potential advantages
• Increase in production and consumption
• Economies of Scale
• Improve allocative and productive efficiency
• More options to consumers
• Increase market competition
• Access to advance technology
• Inflow of Knowledge
• Reduce possibility of hostility and violence
by: Shadi A. Razak 12
INTRODUCTION FREE TRADE

13. Economic growth
• Trade can be seen as the engine of economic
growth:
– Source of foreign exchange
– Method of financing the import of capital
equipment or technology and energy
– An injection of demand into the circular flow of
income and spending
– Raise per captia income and improve development
outcomes
by: Shadi A. Razak 13
INTRODUCTION FREE TRADE

14. Economic growth
• International trade has risks:
– Volatile global prices affecting export revenues and
profits
– Geo-political uncertainty and cyclical shift in
demand
– Raise of structural unemployment as patterns of
demand changes over time in some industries
by: Shadi A. Razak 14
INTRODUCTION FREE TRADE

15. by: Shadi A. Razak 15
INTRODUCTION FREE TRADE

16. by: Shadi A. Razak 16
INTRODUCTION FREE TRADE
Source: https://www.wto.org/images/img_mews/press721/press721_map1_e.png
Merchandise exports and imports in current US dollars by region, 2013

17. The Theory
• Refer to the ability of one country to produce a
good using fewer resources than another
country.
• Accordingly:
– Country specialise in and export the goods which
have an absolute advantage
– Their will be an increase in production and
consumption in each country
by: Shadi A. Razak 17
INTRODUCTION FREE TRADE ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE

18. Examples
by: Shadi A. Razak 18
INTRODUCTION FREE TRADE ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE

19. Example
by: Shadi A. Razak 19
INTRODUCTION FREE TRADE ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE
Source: McGraw-Hill/Irwin , International Business, 5/e

20. Example
by: Shadi A. Razak 20
INTRODUCTION FREE TRADE ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE
Source: McGraw-Hill/Irwin , International Business, 5/e
C
D
4.0 increase for Ghana
3.5 increase for South Korea
4 increase for South Korea
1 increase for Ghana
14
6
6 14

21. The Theory
• Refer to the a country that has a margin of
superiority in supplying a good in compression
to other countries
• In other words, when the country has a lower
opportunity cost in supplying of a good than
another country.
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INTRODUCTION FREE TRADE ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE

22. Example
by: Shadi A. Razak 22
INTRODUCTION FREE TRADE ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE
Source: http://pentagist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/banner-hollywood.jpg Source: http://www.shermanreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/English-
Premier-League.gif

23. Example
by: Shadi A. Razak 23
INTRODUCTION FREE TRADE ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE
Source: McGraw-Hill/Irwin , International Business, 5/e

24. Example
by: Shadi A. Razak 24
INTRODUCTION FREE TRADE ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE
Source: McGraw-Hill/Irwin , International Business, 5/e

25. Factors endowment
• Help countries to determine their trade
pattern:
– Countries with a relative factor abundance can
specialise and trade
– Exports embody the abundant factor
– Imports embody the scarce factor
– Example
by: Shadi A. Razak 25
INTRODUCTION FREE TRADE ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE

26. Factors endowment
by: Shadi A. Razak 26
INTRODUCTION FREE TRADE ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE

27. Factors endowment
• Basic factor endowments :
– Natural resources
– Climate
– Geographic location
– Demographics
by: Shadi A. Razak 27
INTRODUCTION FREE TRADE ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE

28. Factors endowment
• Advanced factor endowments :
– Communications
– Skilled labor
– Technology
– Education
– Research
by: Shadi A. Razak 28
INTRODUCTION FREE TRADE ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE

29. Assumptions and limitations
• Immobility of factors of production
• No fixed technology
• Barriers to trade are small
• No externalities
• Ignore transportation of goods
• Apply only during free trade
• Market is perfect competation
by: Shadi A. Razak 29
INTRODUCTION FREE TRADE ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE

30. Summary
• Explained what is meant by International and
free trade
• Differentiated between absolute and
comparative advantage
• Discuss the real-world relevance and
limitations of comparative advantage theory
by: Shadi A. Razak 30
INTRODUCTION FREE TRADE ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE