Chapter 2: Q 2.5 (page 27)
Distinguish between absolute and comparative advantage.
Comparative Advantage refers to lower opportunity cost whereas Absolute Advantage refers to the production of more units of goods with the given labor and input prices.
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Senator Borman interjects the following comment after the statements by Senators Creighton and Long reported in Problems 2-10 and 2-11: “In fact, both of my esteemed colleagues are wrong, because an unacceptably large portion of our nation’s resources is currently unemployed.” Of the labeled points on the diagram, which one is consistent with Senator Borman’s position?
In response to Senator Creighton’s statement reported in Problem 2-10, Senator Long replies, “We must remain at our current production combination if we want to be able to produce more consumption goods in the future.” Of the labeled points on the diagram, which one could depict the future production combination Senator Long has in mind?
The following table illustrates the points a student can earn on examinations in economics and biology if the student uses all available hours for study. Plot this student’s production possibilities curve. Does the PPC illustrate the law of increasing additional costs?
| Economics | Biology |
| 100 | 40 |
| 90 | 60 |
| 80 | 75 |
| 70 | 85 |
| 60 | 93 |
| 50 | 98 |
| 40 | 100 |
Based on the information in Problems 2-15, should you and your roommate specialize in a particular task? Why? And if so, who should specialize in which task? Show how much labor time you save if you choose to “trade” an appropriate task with your roommate as opposed to doing it yourself.
Country A and country B produce the same consumption goods and capital goods and currently have identical production possibilities curves. They also have the same resources at present, and they have access to the same technology.
a. At present, does either country have a comparative advantage in producing capital goods? Consumption goods?
b. Currently, country A has chosen to produce more consumption goods, compared with country B. Other things being equal, which country will experience the larger outward shift of its PPC during the next year?
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