Question

You just got a job in Washington, D.C. You move

into an apartment with some acquaintances. All your roommates, however, are slackers and do not clean up after themselves. You, on the other hand, can clean faster than each of them. You determine that you are 70% faster at dishes and 10% faster with vacuuming. All of these tasks have to be done daily. Which jobs should you assign to your roommates to get the most free time overall? Assume you have the same number of hours to

devote to cleaning. Now, since you are faster, you seem to get done quicker than your roommate. What sorts of problems may this create? Can you imagine a trade-related analogy to this problem?

Short answer

Some have an absolute advantage and some have a comparative advantage here.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Definition

The ability to produces a good with a smaller quantity of inputs, or to produces more output per unit of input, is referred to as absolute advantage.

The ability to produce a good or service at a comparatively lower opportunity cost than others is known as comparative advantage.

Step 2. Explanation

In order to get the freest time overall, you have to do the work in which you save the most time and have a comparative advantage over others and give the work to your roommate in which he will spend less time with effective work done.

Step 3.

So, you should do the washing of dishes as you will do it 70% faster and give your roommates the work of vacuum cleaning.

If you assume that your roommates are from other nations, your roommates have a comparative advantage in Intra industry trade.