International Trade And The Global Economy
Overview
Look at the label in whatever you are wearing. Then think about where the cotton was grown, where the thread was spun, where the dye came from, which port the container left from and which shipping line carried it. A single shirt may have crossed four borders before it reached you, and at every crossing somebody had to change one currency into another at a rate nobody set on purpose.
This lesson explains why countries trade at all, what free trade means and what the serious arguments against it are, and how a free-trade agreement changes the calculation for its members. You will learn how an exchange rate is determined by exactly the same supply and demand analysis you used for oranges, and work out what happens to consumers and producers when a currency rises or falls. Then you will look at globalisation itself: what has driven it, who has gained, who has paid, and the moral and environmental questions the specification asks you to weigh.
Objectives
- Benefits of trade to countries
- Exports and imports
- Free-trade
- Free-trade agreements
- Exchange rates
- How exchange rates are determined
- The effects of changes in the exchange rate on consumers and producers
- Main features of globalisation
- Benefits and drawbacks of globalisation to producers, workers and consumers in developed countries
- Benefits and drawbacks of globalisation to producers, workers and consumers in less developed countries
- Moral, ethical and sustainability considerations
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on International Trade And The Global Economy. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- What is a tariff? A. A limit on the quantity of a good that may be imported B. A subsidy paid to exporters C. A tax on imported goods D. An agreement to remove trade barriers Answer: C
- A country's currency appreciates. What is the most likely effect? A. Exports become cheaper abroad and imports become dearer at home B. Exports become dearer abroad and imports become cheaper at home C. Both exports and imports become cheaper D. Neither exports nor imports change in price Answer: B
- A machine costs $500. The exchange rate is 1 dollar to 90 rupees. What is the price in rupees? A. 5.6 rupees B. 590 rupees C. 4,500 rupees D. 45,000 rupees Answer: D
- Which of the following has contributed most directly to the growth of globalisation? A. Higher tariffs on imported goods B. Restrictions on the movement of workers C. The standardisation of container shipping D. The withdrawal of countries from trade agreements Answer: C
- Which of the following is an argument AGAINST free trade? A. Consumers gain a wider choice of goods B. Domestic industries that cannot compete may shrink, causing unemployment C. Firms gain access to larger markets and economies of scale D. World output rises as countries specialise Answer: B
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Recommended Books
Further learning from open sources
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Textbook section
What Happens When a Country Has an Absolute Advantage in All Goods
Show the relationship between production costs and comparative advantage
"Principles of Economics 2e: What Happens When a Country Has an Absolute Advantage in All Goods" by OpenStax, OpenStax, Rice University, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source: https://openstax.org/books/principles-economics-2e/pages/33-2-what-happens-when-a-country-has-an-absolute-advantage-in-all-goods. Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/principles-economics-2e/pages/1-introduction
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Textbook section
How Governments Enact Trade Policy: Globally, Regionally, and Nationally
Explain the origin and role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
"Principles of Economics 2e: How Governments Enact Trade Policy: Globally, Regionally, and Nationally" by OpenStax, OpenStax, Rice University, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source: https://openstax.org/books/principles-economics-2e/pages/34-4-how-governments-enact-trade-policy-globally-regionally-and-nationally. Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/principles-economics-2e/pages/1-introduction
Published by other organisations under open licences, credited as they ask. Links open their websites.
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