Question

After lunch the boy scouts "self-arrange" so that the fastest is up front and so on until Herbie is at the rear.

a. What was the result?
b. Did throughput improve (completing more miles)?
c. How does Alex fix the boy scout hike?
d. How do they further improve throughput?

Answer 1

Comparative advantage suggests that each scout should focus on the task they are relatively better at to improve overall throughput and complete more miles on the hike.

Step-by-step explanation:

Comparative advantage is a concept that suggests that even if someone has an absolute advantage in all aspects of a task, it is more beneficial for everyone involved to specialize in the task they are relatively more efficient at. In the case of the boy scouts' hike, it would not be efficient for the fastest scout, Jethro, to do all the work. Instead, they should self-arrange in such a way that each scout focuses on the task they are relatively better at to improve overall throughput and complete more miles.

To fix the hike, Alex can suggest that the scouts self-arrange in a way that maximizes their comparative advantages. They can use their individual strengths and skills to efficiently complete different tasks, such as having the fastest scout lead the group, while others manage food preparation, navigation, or setting up camp.

To further improve throughput, the scouts can analyze their individual skills and determine the most efficient allocation of tasks. They can then optimize their arrangement to make the best use of their comparative advantages and potentially complete more miles by working together more effectively.