Question

The countries of Orion and Scorpius are small mountainous nations. Both produce granite and blueberries. Each nation has a labor force of 800. The table below gives production per month for each worker in each country. Assume productivity is constant and identical for each worker in each country.
Tons of Granite Bushels of Blueberies
Orion workers 6 9
Scorpius workers 3 7

(1) ______ has a comparative advantage in the production of granite
(2) ______ has a comparative advantage in the production of Blueberies.

Answer 1

Answer:

Orion has a comparative advantage in the production of granite .

Scorpius has a comparative advantage in the production of Blueberries.

Explanation:

We have the relative cost for Orion of producing one Ton of Granite is: 9/6 = 1.5 Bushels of Blueberries, while the relative cost for Scorpius of producing one ton of Granite is : 7/3 = 2.33 Bushels of Blueberries. Thus, Orion has comparative advantage of producing Granite.

We have the relative cost for Orion of producing one Bushels of Blueberries is: 6/9 = 0.67 ton of granite, while the relative cost for Scorpius of producing one Bushels of Blueberries is : 3/7 = 0.43 ton of granite. Thus, Scorpius has comparative advantage of producing Blueberries.