David Ricardo believed that the international trade is governed by the comparative cost advantage rather than the absolute cost advantage. Comparative advantage, economic theory, first developed by 19th-century British economist David Ricardo, that attributed the cause and benefits of international trade to the differences in the relative opportunity costs (costs in terms of other goods given up) of producing the same commodities among countries. Comparative Advantage of International Trade. It shows that the gains from international trade result from pursuing comparative advantage and producing at a lower opportunity cost. ADVERTISEMENTS: In this article we will discuss about the David Ricardo’s theory of comparative cost advantage. In contrast, another country may not have any useful absolute advantages. Historical Overview. According to this theory, the international trade between two countries is possible only if each of them has absolute or comparative cost advantage in the production of at least one commodity. As an alternative, Ohlin has propounded a new theory which is known as the modern theory of International Trade. International trade does not require offsetting absolute advantages but is possible where a comparative advantage exists. In Ricardo’s theory, which was based on the labour theory … New trade theory. In order for this to be true, the theory of comparative advantage must be restricted to a set of … However, a comparative advantage is always accompanied by a comparative disadvantage. Comparative cost theory of international trade This theory is developed by a classical economist David Ricardo. His theory concluded that a country could increase its income by specializing in certain products and services and selling these on the international market. It is also one of the most commonly misunderstood principles. He, therefore, regards the theory of comparative advantage as cumbersome, unrealistic, and as a clumsy and dangerous tool of analysis. A country will specialise in that line of production in which it has a greater relative or comparative advantage … New trade theory states that in the real world, comparative advantage is less important than the economies of scale from specialisation. international trade. Historical Overview. The first one is that it allows us to consider both sources of com-parative advantage, technology and factor endowment—within a unifying yet highly tractable framework. 15. The Theory of Comparative Advantage - Overview. The theory of comparative advantage is perhaps the most important concept in international trade theory. This is another theory of trade which states countries gravitate towards trading with similar countries with close geographical proximity. The challenge to the absolute advantage theory was that some countries may be better at producing both goods and, therefore, have an advantage in many areas. Gravity theory. The theory of comparative advantage presented in this paper is attractive for two reasons. The theory of comparative advantage explains why countries trade: they have different comparative advantages. This is important not only for generalizing … Businesses also may have a comparative advantage … The concept of comparative advantage was first formulated by economist David Ricardo as an explanation of the benefits of international trade for countries. is perhaps the most important concept in international trade theory… The theory of comparative advantage A country has a comparative advantage when it can produce a good at a lower opportunity cost than another country; alternatively, when the relative productivities between goods compared with another country are the highest. 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