What are the origins of comparative advantage?

Comparative advantage, economic theory, first developed by 19th-century British economist David Ricardo, that attributed the cause and benefits of international trade to the differences in the relative opportunity costs (costs in terms of other goods given up) of producing the same commodities among countries.

When did comparative advantage start?

1817
The law of comparative advantage is popularly attributed to English political economist David Ricardo and his book “On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation” written in 1817, although it is likely that Ricardo’s mentor, James Mill, originated the analysis.

Who developed the principle of comparative advantage?

David Ricardo
The Principle of Comparative Advantage 200 years on: Introducing a new eBook. David Ricardo made one of the enduring contributions to the analysis of international trade with the publication in 1817 of his “On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation”.

Who was the first to recognize comparative advantage?

David Ricardo developed the classical theory of comparative advantage in 1817 to explain why countries engage in international trade even when one country’s workers are more efficient at producing every single good than workers in other countries.

What are the advantages of comparative advantage?

The benefit of comparative advantage is the ability to produce a good or service for a lower opportunity cost. A comparative advantage gives companies the ability to sell goods and services at prices that are lower than their competitors, gaining stronger sales margins and greater profitability.

How is comparative advantage determined?

In order to determine if comparative advantages exist between the two countries, you have to figure out the opportunity cost of making one unit of one of the items. Their opportunity costs are lower for each of these products relative to one another, and so there is potential for beneficial trade.

Which countries have comparative advantages?

In the U.S., China and Germany , a highly educated workforce and robust infrastructure allows these countries to gain the upper hand in comparative advantages. Other countries lacking these…

What does the United States have a comparative advantage in?

A comparative advantage is when one party has the capability to produce a good more efficiently than another party does. As an example, the United States has a comparative advantage in producing airplanes, while China has a comparative advantage in producing consumer goods like electronics and appliances.

How to figure comparative advantage?

Calculate the Opportunity Cost of Each Good from Each Country. We need to calculate the opportunity cost of 1 unit of iron ore from each country.

Why is comparative advantage important for trade?

Gains From Trade. Comparative advantage is a foundational economic concept that is used to model gains from trade. A nation benefits from trade when then produce goods for which they have a lower opportunity cost and import goods for which they have a higher opportunity cost than other nations.