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An "Austrian" Model of International Trade and Interest Rate Equalization

Journal of Political Economy 1978 86(6), 989-1007
This paper constructs a model of trade in which an intermediate good is produced by an "Austrian" point-input-point-output process of variable duration while the finished good is produced instantaneously by labor alone. The rate of time preference is a function of the level of stationary consumption and the two countries differ in the rate at which they discount the future. It is shown that the less "impatient" country will export the time-intensive intermediate good and import the finished good, with both countries incompletely specialized and the rate of interest and real wage equalized.

An "Austrian" Model of International Trade and Interest Rate Equalization

Journal of Political Economy 1978 86(6), 989-1007
This paper constructs a model of trade in which an intermediate good is produced by an "Austrian" point-input-point-output process of variable duration while the finished good is produced instantaneously by labor alone. The rate of time preference is a function of the level of stationary consumption and the two countries differ in the rate at which they discount the future. It is shown that the less "impatient" country will export the time-intensive intermediate good and import the finished good, with both countries incompletely specialized and the rate of interest and real wage equalized.

Slavery, Incentives, and Manumission: A Theoretical Model

Journal of Political Economy 1975 83(5), 923-933
This paper presents a theoretical model of slavery and manumission in which the effective labor provided by slaves is a function of both the level of supervision costs incurred by the owner and the incentive payments received by the slaves. The optimal combination of supervision costs and incentive payments is determined together with the input of physical capital. The length of time it would take for a slave to purchase his freedom out of savings from his incentive payments is derived and is shown to vary inversely with the rate of interest.

International Trade and Human Capital: A Simple General Equilibrium Model

Journal of Political Economy 1983 91(6), 957-978
The paper incorporates the formation of human capital into the two-factor, two-good model of international trade. Workers can choose between being unskilled and earning the corresponding wage or obtaining an education that enables them to earn a higher wage. The wages of skilled and unskilled labor and the direct and indirect costs of education are all determined endogenously, along with the terms of trade and the pattern of comparative advantage. The implications of the model are consistent with the extensive empirical research on the role of human capital in explaining patterns of comparative advantage.

International Trade and Human Capital: A Simple General Equilibrium Model

Journal of Political Economy 1983 91(6), 957-978 open access
The paper incorporates the formation of human capital into the two-factor, two-good model of international trade. Workers can choose between being unskilled and earning the corresponding wage or obtaining an education that enables them to earn a higher wage. The wages of skilled and unskilled labor and the direct and indirect costs of education are all determined endogenously, along with the terms of trade and the pattern of comparative advantage. The implications of the model are consistent with the extensive empirical research on the role of human capital in explaining patterns of comparative advantage.

Project Evaluation, Shadow Prices, and Trade Policy

Journal of Political Economy 1976 84(3), 543-552
The problem of how to determine the appropriate shadow prices of primary inputs for the evaluation of new projects in an open economy subject to distortions is discussed. These shadow prices are compared with the corresponding free-trade and actual market prices. It is shown that if the distortion is an output subsidy or tax on existing production, the optimal intervention for new projects is subsidies and taxes on primary factors equal to the difference between the shadow prices and the market prices and not an output subsidy or single shadow exchange rate to provide offsetting protection for the new project. It is also shown that projects viable under free trade may reduce welfare if they are introduced into a distorted economy, while projects that would increase welfare in these circumstances might not be viable under free trade.