- CFA Exams
- CFA Level I Exam
- Topic 2. Economics
- Learning Module 6. International Trade
- Subject 1. International Trade
CFA Practice Question
Units of output per work day:
B. The United States has a comparative advantage in clothing and Japan has a comparative advantage in food.
C. The United States has a comparative advantage in food and clothing.
Which of the following statements is correct?
A. The United States has a comparative advantage in food and Japan has a comparative advantage in clothing.
B. The United States has a comparative advantage in clothing and Japan has a comparative advantage in food.
C. The United States has a comparative advantage in food and clothing.
Correct Answer: B
The U.S. can produce clothing at a lower opportunity cost (1/3 unit of food is given up to produce 1 unit of clothing) than Japan (1/2 unit of food is given up to produce 1 unit of clothing).
User Contributed Comments 6
User | Comment |
---|---|
CFA19 | compare opportunity cost (ratio) rather than units of output. |
aartis | US Food 4/16 = 1/4 = 0.25 US Clothing 12/16 = 3/4 = 0.75 Japan Food 3/9 =1/3 = 0.33 Japan Clothing 6/9 = 2/3= 0.67 |
smillis | US: 1 Food, Costs 3 Clothing Japan: 1 Food, Costs 2 Clothing (cheaper) US: 1 Clothing, Costs .33 Food (cheaper) Japan: 1 Clothing, Costs .5 Food |
Rotigga | If US can make 3 units of clothing for every 1 unit of food versus Japan who can make only 2 units of clothing for every 1 unit of food, then the US is certainly better at making clothing than Japan in terms of quantity produced. |
vi2009 | US: Total production per day is 4 units of food + 12 units of clothing. (1:3) => 1unit of food = 3 units of clothing OR (1/3:1) 1/3 of food = 1 clothing Japan: Total production per day is 3 units of food + 6 units of clothing. (1:2) OR (1/2 : 1) |
chesschh | US has comparative advantage of clothing i.e They give up 1 unit of food to produce 3 units of clothing while Japan has to give up 1 unit of food to produce only 2 units of clothing. Japan has comparative advantage of food i.e They give up 2 units of clothing to produce 1 unit of food while the US has to give up 3 units of clothing to produce 1 unit of food. |