the study of international economics has never been as important as it is now. at the beginning of...

The study of international economics has never been as important as it is now.• At the beginning of the 21st century, nations are more

closely linked through trade in goods and services, through flows of money, and through investment in each others’ economies than ever before.

• Figure 1-1 shows that international trade for the United States has roughly tripled in importance compared with the U.S. economy as a whole.

Introduction

Voluntary Trade Creates Wealth -

ALWAYS

Local trade

Regional trade

National trade

International trade

.

Figure 1-1: Exports and Imports as a Percentage of U.S. National Income

Introduction

Figure 1-2: Exports and Imports as Percentages of National Income in 1994

Introduction

Balance of Payments

Capital

account

Current

Account

Goods &

Services

Financial

flows

International economics deals with economic interactions that occur between independent nations.• The role of governments in regulating international trade

and investment is substantial. • Analytically, international markets allow governments to

discriminate against a subgroup of companies.• Governments also control the supply of currency.

There are several issues that recur throughout the study of international economics.

What is International Economics About?

The Gains from Trade• Many people are skeptical about importing goods that

a country could produce for itself.• When countries sell goods to one another, all countries

benefit.• Trade and income distribution

– International trade might hurt some groups within nations.

– Trade, technology, and wages of high and low-skilled workers.


Economics for Leaders

Opening Markets Is Creating Wealth

The Pattern of Trade (who sells what to whom?)• Climate and resources determine the trade pattern of

several goods.

• In manufacturing and services the pattern of trade is more subtle.

• There are two types of trade:– Interindustry trade depends on differences across

countries.

– Intraindustry trade depends on market size and occurs among similar countries.


How Much Trade?• Many governments are trying to shield certain industries

from international competition.

• This has created the debate dealing with the costs and benefits of protection relative to free trade.

– Advanced countries’ policies engage in industrial targeting.

– Developing countries’ policies promote industrialization:– Import substitution versus export promotion industrialization.


The Balance of Payments• Some countries run large trade surpluses.

– For example, in 1998 both China and South Korea ran trade surpluses of about $40 billion each.

• Is it good to run a trade surplus and bad to run a trade deficit?

Exchange Rate Determination• The role of changing exchange rates is at the center of

international economics.



International Policy Coordination• A fundamental problem in international economics is how

to produce an acceptable degree of harmony among the international trade and monetary policies of different countries without a world government that tells countries what to do.

The International Capital Market• There are risks associated with international capital markets:

– Currency depreciation– National default

International Economics: Trade and Money

International trade analysis focuses primarily on the real transactions in the international economy.• These transactions involve a physical movement of

goods or a tangible commitment of economic resources.– Example: The conflict between the United States and

Europe over Europe’s subsidized exports of agricultural products

Economics for Leaders

Who should produce what?

The Law of Comparative Advantage• Through specialization and exchange, both parties can gain

from lower costs and greater output – even if one party does both things better.

What is your lowest opportunity cost

alternative?

Comparative AdvantageProducing a Meal

Cooking

Cleaning

Barbie Ken

10 min

20 min

40 min

30 min

Totals 30 min 70 min

Opportunity Costs

Cooking

Cleaning

Barbie Ken

1/2 cleaning

2/1 cooking

4/3 cleaning

3/4 cooking

What Will Ken & Barbie Do?

Working Independently• Barbie Produces a Meal in 30 Minutes

• Ken Produces a Meal in 70 Minutes

Barbie Has An Absolute Advantage Would Barbie Produce Two Meals? With Trade/Cooperation

• Barbie Spends 20 Minutes Cooking

• Ken Spends 60 Minutes Cleaning

• They Both Gain!

RememberNations Are Not Different

Goods are Produced at Least Cost When People Specialize According to the Principle of Comparative Advantage

Lesson - Don’t Try to Do Everything; It is Not Efficient Trade Between Countries Creates Wealth Examples

• Ken and Barbie Have Time for Other Activities

European Monetary Union

Trade Balance

ImportsExports

WTO (formerly GATT)

International monetary analysis focuses on the monetary side of the international economy. • That is, financial transactions such as foreign

purchases of U.S. dollars.– Example: The dispute over whether the foreign

exchange value of the dollar should be allowed to float freely or be stabilized by government action

International Economics: Trade and Money

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