Question

Suppose that Greece and Germany both produce oil and shoes. Greece's opportunity cost of producing a pair of shoes is 5 barrels of oil, while Germany's opportunity cost of producing a pair of shoes is 11 barrels of oil.

1. By comparing the opportunity cost of producing shoes in the two countries, you can tell that _____ has a comparative advantage in the production of shoes and _____ has a comparative advantage in the production of oil.
2. Suppose that Greece and Germany consider trading shoes and oil with each other. Greece can gain from specialization and trade as long as it receives more than _____ of oil for each pair of shoes it exports to Germany. Similarly, Germany can gain from trade as long as it receives more than _____ for each barrel of oil it exports to Greece.
3. Based on your answer to the last question, which of the following prices of trade (that is, price of shoes in terms of oil) would allow both Germany and Greece to gain from trade?

a. 1 barrel of oil per pair of shoes
b. 17 barrels of oil per pair of shoes
c. 9 barrels of oil per pair of shoes
d. 10 barrels of oil per pair of shoes

Answer 1

1. Greece, Germany

2. 2.2 barrels of oil, 0.45 pairs of shoes

3. d. 10 barrels of oil per pair of shoes

Step-by-step explanation:

a) Data and Calculations:

To produce a pair of shoes costs Greece 5 barrels of oil

To produce a pair of shoes costs Germany 11 barrels of oil

b) This means that it costs Germany more than Greece to produce a pair of shoes, and Germany produces a lot of oil to the extent that she is willing to exchange her 11 barrels of oil for a pair of shoes while Greece can only exchange 5 barrels of oil for a pair of shoes.