Solutions

Mankiw – Chapter 9

SOLUTIONS TO TEXT PROBLEMS:

Quick Quizzes 1. Since wool suits are cheaper in neighboring countries, Autarka would import suits if it were to allow free trade. 2. Figure 1 shows the supply and demand for wool suits in Autarka. With no trade, the price of suits is 3 ounces of gold, consumer surplus is area A, producer surplus is area B + C, and total surplus is area A + B + C. When trade is allowed, the price falls to 2 ounces of gold, consumer surplus rises to A + B + D (an increase of B + D), producer surplus falls to C (a decline of B), so total surplus rises to A + B + C + D (an increase of D). A tariff on suit imports would reduce the increase in consumer surplus, reduce the decline in producer surplus, and reduce the gain in total surplus.

Figure 1 3. Lobbyists for the textile industry might make five arguments in favor of a ban on the import of wool suits: (1) imports of wool suits destroy domestic jobs; (2) the wool-suit industry is vital for national security; (3) the wool-suit industry is just starting up and needs protection from foreign competition until it gets stronger; (4) other countries are unfairly subsidizing their wool-suit industries; and (5) the ban on the importation of wool suits can be used as a bargaining chip in international negotiations. In defending free trade in wool suits, you could argue that: (1) free trade creates jobs in some industries even as it destroys jobs in the wool-suit industry and allows Autarka to enjoy a higher standard of living; (2) the role of wool suits for the military may be exaggerated; (3) government protection is not needed for an industry to grow on its own; (4) it would be good for the citizens of Autarka to be able to buy wool suits at a subsidized price; and (5) threats against free trade may backfire, leading to lower levels of trade and lower economic welfare for everyone.

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Chapter 9/Application: International Trade Questions for Review

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1. If the domestic...