Final answer:
The statement is false; comparative advantage is not solely based on natural elements but also includes other factors such as education, knowledge base, parts of value chains, and economies of scale.
Step-by-step explanation:
The provided statement suggesting that advantages based on capabilities and data that can be acquired are long-lived is false. In a competitive global market, what provides an economy with a comparative advantage is not just natural resources like climate and mineral deposits, but also several other factors. These factors include the education of workers, knowledge base of engineers and scientists, specialized segments of value chains, and economies of scale. Each of these can lead to variations in productivity levels between different economies, thus influencing comparative advantage.
As an example, Brazil has an absolute advantage in producing beef, whereas the United States excels in auto production. The opportunity cost of producing beef in Brazil is much lower than that in the United States, indicating different comparative advantages due to factors beyond natural resources.