Question

According to their comparative advantage: a. Wilson should decorate cupcakes and Kendall should decorate cookies. b. Kendall should decorate cupcakes and Wilson should decorate cookies. c. To avoid boredom, Wilson should decorate ½ of the cupcakes and cookies and Kendall should decorate the other half. d. Wilson should decorate both because he is better at both.

Answer 1

Answer:

B.

Explanation:

This economic law was recognized by a political economist, David Ricardo in his book, ‘Principles of Political Economy and Taxation’ in 1817.

Comparative advantage refers to the ability of a country to produce particular goods or services at lower opportunity costs as compared to the others in the field.

According to this law, if Kendall is good at decorating cupcakes and Wilson is the best at decorating cookies, then Kendall should decorate cupcakes and Wilson should decorate cookies becuase they can do it with lower costs.

The following are the assumptions of the Ricardian doctrine of comparative advantage:

-There are only two countries, assume A and B.

-Both of them produce the same two commodities, X and Y.

-Labour is the only factor of production.

-The supply of labour is unchanged.

-All labour units are homogeneous.

-Tastes are similar in both countries.

-The labour cost determines the price of the two commodities

-The production of commodities is done under the law of constant costs or returns.

-The two countries trade on the barter system.

-Technological knowledge is unchanged.

-Factors of production are perfectly mobile within each country. However, they are immobile between the two countries.

-Free trade is undertaken between the two countries. Trade barriers and restrictions in the movement of commodities are absent.

-Transport costs are not incurred in carrying trade between the two countries.

-Factors of production are fully employed in both the countries.

-The exchange ratio for the two commodities is the same.