324 Discussion: Absolute and Comparative Advantage

Suppose that the United States and Canada can each produce two products: lumber and beef. Create a table like the one below, showing labor requirements per unit of output for each country.  (Hint: Choose numbers for each country that are easily divisible by one another.)

What does absolute advantage mean? How do you calculate absolute advantage?  In what output(s) does the U.S. have an absolute advantage? Explain using the data from your table. In what output(s) does Canada have an absolute advantage? Explain using the data from your table.

What does comparative advantage mean? How do you calculate comparative advantage? In what output(s) does the U.S. have a comparative advantage? Explain using the data from your table. In what output(s) does Canada have a comparative advantage? Explain using the data from your table.

What product should each country export?  Why?