Gottfried Haberler's 1930 Reformulation of Comparative Advantage in Retrospect

8 Pages Posted: 6 Dec 2005

See all articles by Daniel M. Bernhofen

Daniel M. Bernhofen

American University; American University - School of International Service; American University - School of International Service

Abstract

In 1930 Gottfried Haberler freed the doctrine of comparative advantage from its association with David Ricardo's labor theory of value and provided us with its modern opportunity cost formulation. Haberler's reformulation of comparative advantage revolutionized the theory of international trade and laid the conceptual foundation of modern trade theory. On the occasion of its 75th anniversary, a symposium has been organized to reflect on and celebrate one of the most durable and fruitful ideas in the history of economic thought. In this paper I revisit Haberler's original formulation, which was published in German in the Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv.

JEL Classification: F11

Suggested Citation

Bernhofen, Daniel M. and Bernhofen, Daniel M., Gottfried Haberler's 1930 Reformulation of Comparative Advantage in Retrospect . Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=863924 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.863924

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American University - School of International Service ( email )

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American University - School of International Service ( email )

4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20016
United States
2028856721 (Phone)