The Theory of Comparative Advantage

- Given by David Ricardo

Background of the Theory

the original description of the idea can be found in an Essay on the External Corn Trade by Robert Torrens in 1815. David Ricardo formalized the idea using a compelling, yet simple, numerical example in his 1817 book titled, On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation. The idea appeared again in James Mill's Elements of Political Economy in 1821. Finally, the concept became a key feature of international political economy upon the publication of Principles of Political Economy by John Stuart Mill in 1848.

Ricardos Idea of Comparative Advantage

Ricardo's Law of Comparative Advantage improved upon the earlier Law of Absolute Advantage. How? If A (Advancedland) is more productive than B (Backwardland) in every productive activity, would both countries benefit from trade? The law of absolute advantage has no answer to this question. Ricardo's law of comparative advantage showed that the answer is yes.

Ricardos Idea of Comparative Advantage

A country has a comparative advantage in the production of a good or service that it produces The theory of comparative costs argues that, put simply, it is better for a country that is inefficient at producing a good or service to specialise in the production of that good it is least inefficient at, compared with producing other goods.

Assumptions
2*2*1 model Homogeneous goods Labor is homogeneous within a country but heterogeneous across countries. Complete mobility of labor in the country and complete immobility of labor across the country No transportation costs Full employment

Assumptions

Production technology differences exist across industries and across countries and are reflected in labor productivity parameters. The labor and goods markets are assumed to be perfectly competitive in both countries. Firms are assumed to maximize profit while consumers (workers) are assumed to maximize utility.

Ricardos numerical example

In his example Ricardo imagined two countries, England and Portugal, producing two goods, cloth and wine, using labor as the sole input in production. He assumed that the productivity of labor varied between industries and across countries. Ricardo assumed that Portugal was more productive in both goods.

Table-1
Country Wheat
Cost Per Unit In Man Hours England Portugal 15 10

Wine
Cost Per Unit In Man Hours 30 15

Ricardos numerical example

Portugal is relatively better at producing wine than wheat: so Portugal is said to have a COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE in the production of wine. England is relatively better at producing wheat than wine: so England is said to have a comparative advantage in the production of wheat.

Ricardos numerical example

Table 2 shows how trade might be advantageous. Costs of production are as set out in Table 1. England is assumed to have 270 man hours available for production. Before trade takes place it produces and consumes 8 units of wheat and 5 units of wine. Portugal has fewer labour resources with 180 man hours of labour available for production. Before trade takes place it produces and consumes 9 units of wheat and 6 units of wine. Total production between the two economies is 17 units of wheat and 11 units of wine

Table-2
Country Production
Before Trade
Wheat Wine

After Trade
Wheat Wine

England Portugal Total

18

9
17

6
11

0
18

12
12

Ricardos numerical example

If both countries now specialise, Portugal producing only wine and England producing only wheat, total production is 18 units of wheat and 12 units of wine. Specialisation has enabled the world economy to increase production by 1 unit of wheat and 1 unit of wine.

Interpreting the Theory of Comparative Advantage

The garden story offers an intuitive explanation for the theory of comparative advantage and also provides a useful way of interpreting the model results. The usual way of stating the Ricardian model results is to say that countries will specialize in their comparative advantage good and trade them to the other country such that everyone in both countries benefit. Stated this way it is easy to imagine how it would not hold true in the complex real world. A better way to state the results is as follows. The Ricardian model shows that if we want to maximize total output in the world then,

Interpreting the Theory of Comparative Advantage

first, fully employ all resources worldwide; second, allocate those resources within countries to each country's comparative advantage industries; and third, allow the countries to trade freely thereafter.

Interpreting the Theory of Comparative Advantage

In this way we might raise the wellbeing of all individuals despite differences in relative productivities. In this description, we do not predict that a result will carry over to the complex real world. Instead we carry the logic of comparative advantage to the real world and ask how things would have to look to achieve a certain result (maximum output and benefits). In the end we should not say that the model of comparative advantage tells us anything about what will happen when two countries begin to trade; instead we should say that the theory tells us some things that can happen.