1970s
David Ricardo was the first economist to elaborate the theory
of comparative advantage in his book On the Principles of Political
Economy and Taxation. Ricardo wrote:
Under a system of perfectly free commerce, each country
naturally devotes its capital and labour to such employments as are
most beneficial to each. This pursuit of individual advantage is
admirably connected with the universal good of the whole . . . It
is this principle, which determines that wine shall be made in
France and Portugal, that corn shall be grown in America and
Poland, and that hardware and other goods shall be manufactured in
England. (1817, p. 188)
Read more at On the Principles of Political Economy and
Taxation
Think about the 10-year historical period you chose for your
final project. Identify trade policies of the time and discuss the
following points:
What are the main goods and services the United States traded
internationally?
What trade barriers were in place during that decade?
What are two pros and two cons of the trade barriers
used?