Question

In: Economics

Trade creates wealth out-of-thin-air by rearranging the pattern of goods and services to a more valuable...

Trade creates wealth out-of-thin-air by rearranging the pattern of goods and services to a more valuable pattern. Commit this phase to memory as we will use this concept frequently in understand how the world works!


Trade is what we call a positive-sum game, as opposed to a zero-sum game. (Poker is an example of a zero-sum game, where winners must be offset by losers.) Traders enter into an exchange with the expectation of some gains-from-trade, expect to be made better-off because of the trade.


Think about it...then submit an example based on your personal experience. Buying a latte at Starbucks is a classic case of gains from trade, right?

Solutions

Expert Solution

Essentially in trade there are winners and no losers. For example, I import a product from abroad such as a car by paying a certain amount, I benefit as I get access to a product which was not available locally and the seller benefits because he/she gets a market for their product base. Thus I am better off because I get access to a high quality product which was not available locally and the trader benefits by gaining a monetary sum.

Buying a latte at Starbucks is a classic case of gains from trade if the high quality coffee product is not available locally and is sourced from abroad, it is also benefiting the customer and the coffee chain as because of terms of trade, he is able to gain access to the product and wealth gets generated because of this mechanism.

Thus in general there are several gains from trade and it is a positive sum game where there are no losers. However losers may arise if the local product is not getting sold because of the cheap imported product, creating joblessness in the local economy and thus generating losers.

Thus if there is voluntary trade where people are willingly doing trade and there are no subsidies, it is a positive sum game because everyone is on a level playing field and everyone benefits because of fair trade practices. Wherein trade is a positive sum game generating enormous profits.


Related Solutions

Explain why economists generally argue that trade creates wealth. Your answer to this question should reflect...
Explain why economists generally argue that trade creates wealth. Your answer to this question should reflect what economists argue. Whether you agrees with the view held by economists is immaterial to this question: explain the economic argument.
Explain why economists generally argue that trade creates wealth. Your answer to this question should utilize...
Explain why economists generally argue that trade creates wealth. Your answer to this question should utilize material we’ve covered in class and should reflect what economists argue. Whether one agrees with the view held by economists is immaterial to this question: explain the economic argument. 600 words or less
The record of international trade in goods and services and international transfer payments is called Select...
The record of international trade in goods and services and international transfer payments is called Select one: a. the exchange rate account b. the foreign account c. the balance of payments d. the current account e. the capital account Under a flexible exchange rate system, expansionary fiscal policy Select one: a. has no effect on the trade balance b. is very effective because crowding out cannot occur c. cannot change the level of consumption d. always has to be supplemented...
3. Factors that influence international trade In the 1950s, imports and exports of goods and services...
3. Factors that influence international trade In the 1950s, imports and exports of goods and services constituted roughly 4% to 5% of U.S. GDP. In recent years, exports have accounted for approximately 12% of GDP, while imports have more than tripled to over 15% of GDP. Which of the following help to explain the increase in international trade and finance since the 1950s? Check all that apply. International trade agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Higher...
Does the company Caterpillar have more outsourcing of there goods and services or insourcing?
Does the company Caterpillar have more outsourcing of there goods and services or insourcing?
1. First, write out the equilibrium conditions in the Goods and Services market and the Loanable...
1. First, write out the equilibrium conditions in the Goods and Services market and the Loanable Funds Market for a closed economy (i.e. the “supply equals demand” equations for each). 2. As we’ve learned, a third market – the Labor Market – typically does not reach an equilibrium where supply of labor equals demand for labor. What do we call the “normal” unemployment rate that persists even when wages have [incompletely] adjusted? 3. Say that businesses in the economy collectively...
Discuss the major trade-off that must be made in managing waiting lines for goods or services?...
Discuss the major trade-off that must be made in managing waiting lines for goods or services? What role does variability (of arrivals and of the service) play in this consideration? How does this variability impact resource utilization and then its impact on the waiting/queuing of the work units?
2. Accounting for trade in goods and services Suppose the following transactions occur during the current...
2. Accounting for trade in goods and services Suppose the following transactions occur during the current year: 1. Dmitri orders 50 cases of beer from a Dutch distributor at a price of $40 per case. 2. A U.S. company sells 200 transistors to a Spanish company at $15.00 per transistor. 3. Jake, a U.S. citizen, pays $1,500 for a laptop he orders from Microell (a U.S. company). Complete the following table by indicating how the combined effects of these transactions...
if a country’s nominal GDP increases, it means the country is producing more goods and services
  if a country’s nominal GDP increases, it means the country is producing more goods and services     If nominal GDP increased by 5.1% and real GDP increased by 2.5% last year, Prices went up during the year.     The marginal propensity to consume is the change in consumption expenditure divided by the percentage change in income     The deficit will decrease during recessions and increase during expansions.     An increase in the money supply will...
True or false: 1) If a nation is selling more goods and services to foreigners than...
True or false: 1) If a nation is selling more goods and services to foreigners than it is buying from them, then on net it must be selling assets abroad. 2) It is possible for a country to have domestic investment that exceeds national saving. 3) If a country’s trade surplus falls, its net capital outflow rises. 4) If the exchange rate is 80 yen per dollar, then a hotel room in Tokyo that costs 25,000 yen costs $200. 5)...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT