Answer :
To determine which outcome is most likely, we need to analyze the comparative advantages of each country based on the given data. Let's break down the information step by step:
### Country A's Production
- Carrots: 40,000 per day
- Apples: 10,000 per day
### Country B's Production
- Carrots: 20,000 per day
- Apples: 10,000 per day
### Comparative Advantage Analysis
Step 1: Calculate the opportunity cost for each country.
#### Opportunity Cost of Carrots in Terms of Apples
- Country A:
- If Country A produces 40,000 carrots in a day, it forgoes producing 10,000 apples.
- Opportunity cost for carrots: [tex]\( \frac{10,000 \text{ apples}}{40,000 \text{ carrots}} = 0.25 \text{ apples per carrot} \)[/tex]
- Country B:
- If Country B produces 20,000 carrots in a day, it forgoes producing 10,000 apples.
- Opportunity cost for carrots: [tex]\( \frac{10,000 \text{ apples}}{20,000 \text{ carrots}} = 0.5 \text{ apples per carrot} \)[/tex]
#### Opportunity Cost of Apples in Terms of Carrots
- Country A:
- If Country A produces 10,000 apples in a day, it forgoes producing 40,000 carrots.
- Opportunity cost for apples: [tex]\( \frac{40,000 \text{ carrots}}{10,000 \text{ apples}} = 4 \text{ carrots per apple} \)[/tex]
- Country B:
- If Country B produces 10,000 apples in a day, it forgoes producing 20,000 carrots.
- Opportunity cost for apples: [tex]\( \frac{20,000 \text{ carrots}}{10,000 \text{ apples}} = 2 \text{ carrots per apple} \)[/tex]
### Step 2: Identify Comparative Advantage
- Comparative advantage for a good goes to the country with the lower opportunity cost in producing that good.
- Country A has a comparative advantage in producing carrots because their opportunity cost (0.25 apples per carrot) is lower than Country B's (0.5 apples per carrot).
- Country B has a comparative advantage in producing apples because their opportunity cost (2 carrots per apple) is lower than Country A's (4 carrots per apple).
### Conclusion
Given the comparative advantage of each country:
- Country A should focus on growing carrots.
- Country B should focus on growing apples.
Therefore, the most likely outcome is:
B. Country A would focus on growing carrots to trade with Country B.
### Country A's Production
- Carrots: 40,000 per day
- Apples: 10,000 per day
### Country B's Production
- Carrots: 20,000 per day
- Apples: 10,000 per day
### Comparative Advantage Analysis
Step 1: Calculate the opportunity cost for each country.
#### Opportunity Cost of Carrots in Terms of Apples
- Country A:
- If Country A produces 40,000 carrots in a day, it forgoes producing 10,000 apples.
- Opportunity cost for carrots: [tex]\( \frac{10,000 \text{ apples}}{40,000 \text{ carrots}} = 0.25 \text{ apples per carrot} \)[/tex]
- Country B:
- If Country B produces 20,000 carrots in a day, it forgoes producing 10,000 apples.
- Opportunity cost for carrots: [tex]\( \frac{10,000 \text{ apples}}{20,000 \text{ carrots}} = 0.5 \text{ apples per carrot} \)[/tex]
#### Opportunity Cost of Apples in Terms of Carrots
- Country A:
- If Country A produces 10,000 apples in a day, it forgoes producing 40,000 carrots.
- Opportunity cost for apples: [tex]\( \frac{40,000 \text{ carrots}}{10,000 \text{ apples}} = 4 \text{ carrots per apple} \)[/tex]
- Country B:
- If Country B produces 10,000 apples in a day, it forgoes producing 20,000 carrots.
- Opportunity cost for apples: [tex]\( \frac{20,000 \text{ carrots}}{10,000 \text{ apples}} = 2 \text{ carrots per apple} \)[/tex]
### Step 2: Identify Comparative Advantage
- Comparative advantage for a good goes to the country with the lower opportunity cost in producing that good.
- Country A has a comparative advantage in producing carrots because their opportunity cost (0.25 apples per carrot) is lower than Country B's (0.5 apples per carrot).
- Country B has a comparative advantage in producing apples because their opportunity cost (2 carrots per apple) is lower than Country A's (4 carrots per apple).
### Conclusion
Given the comparative advantage of each country:
- Country A should focus on growing carrots.
- Country B should focus on growing apples.
Therefore, the most likely outcome is:
B. Country A would focus on growing carrots to trade with Country B.