Factor-Intensity Reversals Describe a Situation in Which the Production of a Product

question 9

Essay

Factor-intensity reversals describe a situation in which the production of a product may be land intensive in one country, and relatively labor intensive in another (at given relative wage levels). For example, cotton may be land intensive in the U.S., and labor intensive in Egypt where land is relatively scarce and expensive. Suppose factor-intensity reversals were common. How would that affect the conclusion that a country in which land is relatively scarce will not be the country with a comparative advantage in the land-intensive product?

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Definitions:

Reinforcement

A process in operant conditioning that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated, which can be either positive (by adding a stimulus) or negative (by removing a stimulus).

Negative Contrast Effect

The effect in which a shift from high to low reward magnitude produces a lower level of responding than if the reward magnitude had always been low.

Reward

A beneficial stimulus that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated when it follows that behavior.

Variable-interval Schedule

A reinforcement schedule in which rewards are given following a variable amount of time.