Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/67418
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2012
Citation: 
[Journal:] The Open Economics Journal [ISSN:] 1874-9194h [Volume:] 5 [Publisher:] Bentham Open [Place:] Sharjah [Year:] 2012 [Pages:] 15-20
Publisher: 
Bentham Open, Sharjah
Abstract: 
International competitiveness is often regarded as crucial for the attainment of gains from trade, which may lead policy makers to subsidize exports. This view is based on confusion between the concepts of competitive and comparative advantage. The paper argues that when comparative advantage is defined and measured appropriately, not limiting it to the Ricardian and Heckscher-Ohlin models, it becomes a necessary condition for the attainment of gains from trade and it applies to all forms of trade that lead to economy-wide gains. The paper proceeds by reviewing first the concepts and measurements of comparative and competitive advantage. It shows that in order to result in economy-wide benefits, known as gains from trade, trade needs to be based on comparative advantage. It also points to implications for the design of trade and industrial policies.
Subjects: 
comparative advantage
competitive advantage
international competitiveness
gains from trade
intra-industry trade
JEL: 
F10
F12
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Creative Commons License: 
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Document Type: 
Article
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