Question

Suppose the United States is currently producing 200 tons of hamburgers and 60 tons of tacos and Mexico is currently producing 40 tons of hamburgers and 50 tons of tacos. If the United States and Mexico each specialize in producing only one good​ (the good for which each has a comparative​ advantage), then a total of _____ additional​ ton(s) of hamburgers can be produced for the two countries combined ​(enter a numeric response using an integer) and a total of _____ additional ton(s) of tacos can be produced.

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

United States is producing 200 tons of hamburgers and 60 tons of tacos.

United States' opportunity cost for producing 1 ton of hamburgers

= $\frac{60}{200}$

= 0.3

United States' opportunity cost for producing 60 tons of tacos.

= $\frac{200}{60}$

= 3.33

So we see that US has a lower opportunity cost in producing hamburgers, so it has a comparative advantage in producing hamburgers.

Mexico is producing 40 tons of hamburgers and 50 tons of tacos.

Mexico's opportunity cost of producing a ton of hamburgers

= $\frac{50}{40}$

= 1.25

Mexico's opportunity cost of producing a ton of tacos

= $\frac{40}{50}$

= 0.8

So we see that Mexico has a lower opportunity cost in producing tacos, so it has a comparative advantage in making tacos.

Since US specializes in making hamburgers, it will produce 200 tons of hamburgers and 0 tons of tacos.

Mexico specializes in making tacos, it will produce 50 tons of tacos and 0 tons of hamburgers.