international trade. exports- goods sold to another country imports- goods sold from another country...
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
EXPORTS- goods sold to another country
IMPORTS- goods sold from another country to the U.S.
ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE- Theability of one country using thesame quality of resources asanother country, to produce aparticular product at less cost.
EXAMPLE: Kentucky has significant coal reserves.
Illinois does not and uses nuclear energy.Assume that energy production is cheaper with
coal than with nuclear energy.Kentucky has an absolute advantage in energy
production. Why?
COMPARARTIVE ADVANTAGE-the ability of a country to producea product at a lower opportunity cost than another country.(soybeans vs corn)
Example• Two men live alone in an isolated island. To survive they must
undertake a few basic economic activities like water carrying, fishing, cooking and shelter construction and maintenance. The first man is young, strong, and educated and is faster, better, more productive at everything. He has an absolute advantage in all activities. The second man is old, weak, and uneducated. He has an absolute disadvantage in all economic activities. In some activities the difference between the two is great; in others it is small.
• Is it in the interest of either of them to work in isolation? No, specialization and exchange (trade) can benefit both of them.
• How should they divide the work? According to comparative, not absolute advantage: the young man must spend more time on the tasks in which he is much better and the old man must concentrate on the tasks in which he is only a little worse. Such an arrangement will increase total production and/or reduce total labour. It will make both of them richer.
SPECIALIZATION- produce productsfor which you are well suited
How do we specialize in our everyday jobs?
INTERDEPENDENCE- The relianceof each nation on selling and buying goods and services from othernations
ANTITRUST LEGISLATION- to make sure the marketplace is fair andcompetitive
Prohibit monopoliesProtect consumersProtect environment
TRADE POLICY- The federalGovernment regulates Americantrade with other countries.
TariffsQuotasBlockade or embargo
PROTECTIONISM: Economic policy of restraining trade between nations.
TARIFFS- special taxes on importedgoods
Adds to cost of buying foreign goodsin the United States. Why?
QUOTAS- restrictions on the numberof goods a country can import into theUnited States
(sometimes imposed on countries with unfair trade practices)
Blockade or embargo- complete prohibition of trade with anothercountry
(U.S. government has imposed anembargo on trade with Cuba/politicalprotest)
PROTECTIONISM
VS
FREE TRADE
AGAINST FREE TRADE:
1. JOB SECURITY
2. NEED PROTECTION FOR OUR NATION’S ECONOMIC SECURITY
3. NEED TO PROTECT INFANT INDUSTRIES
FOR FREE TRADE: 1. COMPETITION MEANS IMPROVED PRODUCTS 2. TRADE RESTRICTIONS DAMAGE EXPORT INDUSTRIES PUTTING AMERICANS OUT OF WORK
3. SPECIALIZATION HELPS KEEP PRICES LOW