Summary of Trade

Benefits of trade:
-Tightens foreign relation
-Allows growth
-Increases standard of living
-Increases wealth
-Restructuring of economies

Free Trade: 
- Situations where governments impose no artificial barriers to trade that restrict the free exchange of goods and services.
- The most fundamental assumptions of economists is free trade is a good thing and that this will lead to faster levels of growth
Principle of comparative advantage: Even if one country can produce all good more efficiently than another country, trade will still benefit both countries if each country specialises in the production of the good which is comparatively more efficient. This is based upon opportunity cost.
Opportunity cost: the alternate forgone for the production of a product. It represents the cost of satisfying one want over an alternative want.
Advantage of free trade:
-Allows countries to obtain goods that are not produced locally
-Allows specialisation of the production of good for better efficiency and allocation of resources, leading to an increase in GDP
-Lowers average cost of production due to economies of scale
-International competitiveness will improve and this will not only lower prices and create competition but can lead to more innovations and efficiency
-Encourages innovation and the spread of new technologies
-Leads to higher standards of living as a result of lower prices, increased production and increased consumer choice. Also higher rates of economic growth and increased incomes

Disadvantages of free trade:
-An increase in short term unemployment may occur due to domestic businesses not being able to compete
-Difficulty in establishing new businesses and industries due to lack of protection
-Production surpluses may be “dumped” – extra product is sold at unreasonably low prices, killing other companies and reducing competition. Once the other companies are out of the market the raise the price again. This bad for the consumer and the local businesses that have suffered.
-Encourages environmentally unfriendly practices (e.g. china) as to produce goods at lower prices.
-Encourages unethical and immoral behaviours to maximise profit and lower prices (e.g. sweatshops and inhumane killing of animals)

Methods of protection
Subsidies: payments made by the government to local produces to cover costs and support production. Helps local businesses compete with overseas companies.
Taxation on imports (tariffs): raises prices of imports as to make local products more appealing
Quotas: restrictions on the amounts/values of imports of goods and services
Government legislation: rules and laws that prevent unethical and immoral pricing and business behaviours to protect local businesses.

Effects of proctection:
-reduces trade between nations
-reduce living standards and global economic growth
-makes it more difficult for individual economies to specialise
-Trading blocs tends to be worst for developing economie

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