Question

Suppose that a worker in Cornland can grow either 40 bushels of corn or 10 bushels of oats per year, and a worker in Oatland can grow either 5 bushels of corn or 50 bushels of oats per year. There are 20 workers in Cornland and 20 workers in Oatland. If the two countries do not trade, Cornland will produce and consume 400 bushels of corn and 100 bushels of oats, while Oatland will produce and consume 60 bushels of corn and 400 bushels of oats. If each country made the decision to specialize in producing the good in which it has a comparative advantage, then the combined yearly output of the two countries would increase by

a. 280 bushels of corn and 450 bushels of oats.
b. 340 bushels of corn and 500 bushels of oats.
c. 360 bushels of corn and 520 bushels of oats.
d. 360 bushels of corn and 640 bushels of oats.

Answer 1

The answer is B) 340 bushels of corn and 500 bushels of oats.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cornland´s workers have a comparative advantage in the production of corn, each worker can grow 40 bushels per year. Since Cornland has 20 workers in total, its maximum possible output of corn bushels would be 800 (20x40=800).

Oatland´s workers have a comparative advantage in the production or oats, each worker can grow 50 bushels per year. Since Oatland has 20 workers in total, its maximum possible output of oats bushels would be 1,000 (20x50=1,000).

Currently both countries combined are producing 460 bushels of corn (400+60=460) and 500 bushels of oats (100+400=500). If each country specializes in the production of the good in which they have a comparative advantage, then their total combined output would increase by 340 bushels of corn and 500 bushels of oats.

• Corn: specialized production - current production = 800-460 = 340 bushels
• Oats: specialized production - current production = 1,000-500 = 500 bushels