Peng Chapter 5: Trading Internationally PDF

CHAPTER 5: TRADING INTERNATIONALLY Wade C. Roberts, Ph.D. C211 GLOBAL BUSINESS INTRODUCTION… Course Mentor: Wade Roberts Education: PhD in Economics – University of Utah Expert Fields: Development, Labor, Public,...

CHAPTER 5: TRADING INTERNATIONALLY Wade C. Roberts, Ph.D. C211 GLOBAL BUSINESS INTRODUCTION… Course Mentor: Wade Roberts Education: PhD in Economics – University of Utah Expert Fields: Development, Labor, Public, Health, Gender Current Research (Cambodia): Microfinance, Poverty, Inequality, Socioeconomics Learning Objectives After studying this chapter, you should be able to: 5-1 Use the resource-based and institution-based views to answer why nations trade. 5-2 Understand classical and modern theories of international trade. 5-3 Realize the importance of political realities governing international trade. 5-4 Participate in two leading debates concerning international trade. 5-5 Draw implications for action.  WHY DO NATIONS TRADE? In general, nations trade in order to achieve some benefit. Typically, firms within nations are trading internationally, although governments sometimes engage in trade as well. QUESTION: What benefits might nations or firms within nations receive by trading internationally? KEY TERMS IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE Exporting Selling abroad Importing Buying from abroad Merchandise Tangible products being traded Service Intangible services being traded INTERNATIONAL TRADE Trade deficit When a nation imports more than it exports Trade surplus When a nation exports more than it imports Balance of trade Whether a country has a trade surplus or deficit INTERNATIONAL TRADE THEORIES Classical trade theories (1) Mercantilism (2) Absolute Advantage (3) Comparative advantage INTERNATIONAL TRADE THEORIES Modern trade theories (1) Product Life Cycles (2) Strategic trade (3) “Diamond” MERCANTILISM Theory of mercantilism Wealth of the world (measured in gold and silver) is fixed and that a nation that exports more and imports less would enjoy the net inflows of gold and silver and thus become richer; international trade is viewed as a zero-sum game Protectionism Idea that governments should actively protect domestic industries from imports and vigorously promote exports  ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE Free trade Buying and selling of goods and services with little or no government intervention Theory of absolute advantage Nation gains by specializing in economic activities in which that nation has an absolute advantage Absolute advantage To be more efficient than anyone else in the production of any good or service COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE Nation A has an absolute advantage in production of all goods compared to Nation B As long as Nation B is not equally less efficient in the production of both goods, Nation B can still choose to specialize in the production of one good in which it has comparative advantage COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE Comparative advantage Relative (not absolute) advantage in one economic activity that one nation enjoys in comparison with other nations Opportunity cost Cost of pursuing one activity at the expense of another activity, given the alternatives SOURCE OF ABSOLUTE AND COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES Factor endowment Extent to which different countries possess various factors of production such as labor, land, and technology Factor endowment theory (Heckscher-Ohlin theory) Nations will develop comparative advantages based on their locally abundant factors PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE Product life cycle theory The first dynamic theory to account for changes in the patterns of trade over time  STRATEGIC TRADE Strategic trade theory Strategic intervention by governments in certain industries can enhance their odds for international success First-mover advantage Advantages that first entrants enjoy and do not share with late entrants QUESTION: What advantages might a firm enjoy by being the first mover into a market? NATIONAL COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES OF INDUSTRIES Theory of national competitive advantage of industries (diamond theory) Certain industries (but not others) within a nation are competitive internationally  REALITIES OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE Tariff barrier Means of discouraging imports by placing a tariff (tax) on imported goods Import tariff Tax imposed a good brought in from another country Deadweight cost Net losses that occur when import tariffs are imposed NONTARIFF BARRIERS (NTBs) Nontariff barrier (NTB) Discourages imports using means other than taxes on imported goods NONTARIFF BARRIERS (NTBs) Import quota Restriction on the quantity of a good that can be brought into a country Voluntary export restraint (VER) Exporting countries voluntarily agree to restrict their exports Local content requirement Rules stipulating that a certain proportion of the value of the goods made in one country must originate from that country NONTARIFF BARRIERS (NTBs) Administrative policy Bureaucratic rules that make it harder to import foreign goods Antidumping duty Costs levied on imports that have been “dumped” (selling below costs to “unfairly” drive domestic firms out of business ARGUMENTS AGAINST FREE TRADE Infant industry argument Young domestic firms need government protection because they stand no chance of surviving and will be crushed by mature foreign rivals ARGUMENTS AGAINST FREE TRADE Trade embargo Politically motivated trade sanctions against foreign countries to signal displeasure  CLASSICAL THEORIES VS NEW REALITIES Classical theorists and their modern-day disciples argue that the US and India trade by tapping into each other’s comparative advantage: India leverages its abundant, high-skill, and low-wage labor Americans will channel their energy and resources to higher skill, higher paying jobs Regrettably, certain Americans will lose jobs, but the nation as a whole benefits? QUESTION: Are the theories still valid?