International Trade

Hecksher-Ohlin Model

Premise of the model

  • 2-country (Home and Foreign), 2-good (X and Y), 2-factor (Labour and Capital) economy.
  • Full Employment.
  • Zero Profit.
  • Constant Returns of Scale (CRS).
  • H and F have the same preference, and the same production technology.
  • Free trade - no barriers, no transport costs.
  • Production function is homothetic.
  • New terms

  • Factor Abundance
    If H is endowed with relatively more L, H is "relatively L abundant". I.e. if KH/LH < KF/LF, F is relatively K abundant and H is relatively L abundant. Remember that absolute amount of resource endowment is not important.

  • Factor Intensity
    If sector X requires relatively more L per unit production, X is "relatively L intensive". I.e. if KX/LX < KY/LY, X is relatively L intensive and Y is relatively K intensive. Remember that absolute amount of factor required is not important.

  • Throughout this section, we assume that H (F) is relatively L (K) abundant, and X (Y) is relatively L (K) intensive.


  • Autarky
  • Trade
  • Conclusion


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