Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall Principles & Policies I: Macroeconomics Chapter 17: International Trade Policy

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall Chapter 17: International Trade Policy

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall Chapter 17 Learning Objectives. You should be able to: Explain the principle of comparative advantage. List three determinants of the terms of trade. Explain three policies countries use to restrict trade. Discuss why countries impose trade restrictions. Summarize why economists generally oppose trade restrictions. Explain how free trade associations both help and hinder international trade.

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall U.S. Exports by Region, 2001 European Union 22% Pacific Rim 24% OPEC 3% Central and South America 8% Mexico 14% Other 4% Canada 22% Other Europe 3%

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall U.S. Imports by Region, 2001 European Union 19% Pacific Rim 32% OPEC 5% Central and South America 6% Mexico 12% Other 2% Canada 19% Other Europe 5%

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall Adam Smith ( ) Critic of mercantilism. Countries should specialize and trade. Specialize where there’s an ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE A region has an absolute advantage if it takes fewer resources to produce a good there than elsewhere. Coffee in Columbia. Computer software in Silicon Valley.

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall David Ricardo ( ) Theory of comparative advantage. Even without an absolute advantage a region can trade to the benefit of all parties.

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall The Benefits of Trade The argument for the benefits of trade underlies the general policy of laissez-faire. –Laissez-faire – an economic policy of leaving coordination of individuals’ actions to the market.

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall Production Possibilities without Trade Pakistan can produce 4,000 yards of textile per day or 1 ton of chocolate per day. Belgium can produce 1,000 yards of textile a day or 4 tons of chocolate per day.

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall Production Possibilities without Trade Pakistan has a comparative advantage in producing textiles. Belgium has a comparative advantage in chocolate.

Production Possibilities without Trade Chocolate (in tons) Textiles (in thousands of yards) Belgium Pakistan McGraw-Hill/Irwin © 2004 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall Production Possibilities without Trade Pakistan has chosen to produce 2,000 yards of textiles and 0.5 tons of chocolate. Belgium has chosen to produce 500 yards of textile and 2 tons of chocolate.

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall Production Possibilities without Trade Point A: The combination of textile and chocolate chosen by Pakistan. Point B: The combination of textile and chocolate chosen by Belgium. Point C: The joint combination without trade.

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall Production Possibilities without Trade

Chocolate (in tons) Textiles (in thousands of yards) Belgium Pakistan A B C McGraw-Hill/Irwin © 2004 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall Production Possibilities without Trade The two extreme combinations are both countries producing only textile (point D) and both producing only chocolate (point E). The combined production possibilities curve with no trade is drawn by connecting these two points.

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall Production Possibilities with Trade This is where each nation is focusing on that activity for which it has a comparative advantage. –Pakistan produces 4,000 yards of textile. –Belgium produces 4 tons of chocolate.

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall Production Possibilities with Trade

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall The Gains From Trade

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall The Gains From Trade

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall The Gains From Trade

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall The Gains From Trade

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall Terms of trade: who gets the gains from trade? Three determinants: 1.The greater the competition, the less of the gain goes to traders, more goes to citizens. 2.Smaller countries will get a larger proportional gain. 3.Countries with economies of scale (increasing returns to scale) get a larger gain.

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall Policies used to restrict trade: 1.Tariffs 2.Quotas 3.Regulatory trade restrictions (e.g. building codes, environmental laws)

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall Why impose trade restrictions? 1.Protect domestic jobs. 2.Infant industry argument. 3.National security. 4.Unfair competition (dumping, lax environmental and labor laws abroad).

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall Why do economists oppose trade restrictions? 1.There are gains from trade. 2.More competition improves efficiency.

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall Smoot-Hawley Tariff (1930)—average tariff of 60%, beggar-thy-neighbor. General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade ( ), replaced by World Trade Organization.

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall The World Trade Organization (WTO) is committed to getting nations to agree not to impose new tariffs or other trade restrictions except under certain limited conditions.

Macroeconomics, Maclachlan Fall Free Trade Associations European Union NAFTA