- The absolute advantage theory of international trade originated from Adam Smith's work, which argued that countries should specialize in producing goods they are relatively more efficient at and trade for goods from other countries. - According to the theory, countries have an absolute advantage in producing goods for which they have lower opportunity costs compared to other countries. They should export goods they have an absolute advantage in and import goods other countries have an absolute advantage in. - Through specialization and trade based on absolute advantages, global production is increased and all trading partners can gain. The theory assumes two countries, two goods, and mobility of labor but not between countries. It also does not consider transportation costs or variations in country size.

1. Branch - MBA
International Business Management
DR. APJ ABDUL KALAM TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
By
Dr. B. B.Tiwari
Professor
Department of Management
Shri Ramswaroop Memorial Group of Professional Colleges, Lucknow
Lecture – 2
International Trade Theories:
Absolute Cost Advantage Theory

2. Origin of the theory:
Introduction
 The main concept of absolute advantage is generally attributed
to Adam Smith for his 1776 publication An Inquiry into the
Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations in which he
countered mercantilist ideas.
 Smith argued that it was impossible for all nations to become
rich simultaneously by following mercantilism.
 Smith also stated that the wealth of nations depends upon the
goods and services available to their citizens, rather than their

3. ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE
THEORY : SIMPLE TERMS
• Theory is based upon principle of division of labour.
• Free Trade among countries can increase a country’s wealth
• Free Trade enables a country to provide a variety of goods and
services to its people by specializing in the production of some
goods and services and importing others.
• Every country should specialize in producing those products at
cost less than that of other countries and exchange these
products with other products produced cheaply by others.
• When one country produces a product at a lower cost and
another country produces another product alt lower cost, both
can exchange required quantity and can enjoy benefits of
absolute cost advantage.

4. Absolute Advantage
 Export those goods and services for which a country is more
productive than other countries.
 Import those goods and services for which other
countries are more productive than it is.
 Country should concentrate on production of goods in which it
holds an absolute advantage.
 Measures nations wealth by the standard of living of its
people

5.  Two Commodities and two countries
 Assumes total world production and emphasis on
efficiency.
 No transportation cost between and within the country.
 Factors are easily mobile within a country and
immobile between the countries
 Full employment.
Assumptions

6. Source:https://www.slideshare.net/saihemant/international-trade-theory-absolute-advantage-theory

7. Source:https://www.slideshare.net/saihemant/international-trade-theory-absolute-advantage-theory

8. The Theory of Absolute
Advantage:
An Example
OUTPUT PER HOUR OF LABOR
France Japan
Wine 1 2
Clock or TV 5 3

9. ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE
THEORY: ADVANTAGES
• Specialization : Specialization of labour leads to higher
productivity and allows to achieve less labour cost per unit of
output
• Suitability: Suitability of the skills of labour of the country in
producing certain products
• Economies: Economies of Scale helps to reduce Scale the
labour cost per unit of output

10. ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE
THEORY: SIGNIFICANCE
• More quantity of both products
• Increased standard of living for both countries
• Increased production efficiency
• Increase in global efficiency and effectiveness
• Maximization of global productivity and other resources
productivity

11. ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE
THEORY: LIMITATIONS
• No absolute advantages for many countries
• Country size varies
• Country by country differences in specializations
• Deals with labour only and neglects other factors of production
• Neglected Transport cost
• Theory is based on an assumption that Exchange rates are
stable and fixed.
• It also assumes that labor can switch between products easily
and they will work with same efficiency which in reality cannot

12. THANK YOU