Comparative Advantage in Ice Cream Production

What are Emily's and Ben's opportunity costs of producing 1 milkshake respectively? Who has the comparative advantage?

Emily’s opportunity cost of producing 1 milkshake is 3 ice cream sundaes and Ben’s opportunity cost of producing 1 milkshake is 1 ice cream sundae.

Opportunity cost simply means what one will forgo in order to get something else. In this case, Emily’s opportunity cost of producing 1 milkshake is 3 ice cream sundaes and Ben’s opportunity cost of producing 1 milkshake is 1 ice cream sundae.

  • Also, the comparative advantage refers to the ability of an economy to produce goods at a lower opportunity cost when it's compared to the others. In this case, Emily has a comparative advantage in the production of ice cream sundaes while Ben has a comparative advantage in the production of milkshakes.
← Significant self portrait in art history What are the job responsibilities of cabinetmakers and bench carpenters →