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Explaining comparative advantage

Geoff Riley

1st September 2009

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In an extract from his new book 50 Economic Ideas, Edmund Conway considers the importance of comparative advantage built on the work of David Ricardo.

“Ricardo’s theory of comparative advantage is typically used as the backbone of arguments in favour of free trade – in other words abolishing tariffs and quotas on goods imported from foreign countries. It is claimed that, by trading freely with other countries – even those that, on paper, are more efficient at producing goods and services – one can become more prosperous than by closing one’s borders”

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Geoff Riley

Geoff Riley FRSA has been teaching Economics for nearly forty years. He has over twenty years experience as Head of Economics at leading schools. He writes extensively and is a contributor and presenter on CPD and Revision conferences in the UK and overseas.