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Specialisation and comparative advantage

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Patterns of trade

What causes market failure?

Peter Smith summarises key ways in which markets may fail to produce the best possible allocation of resources within society

In an ideal world, free markets would operate in such a way that the best combination of goods and services was produced making the best use of available factors of production.

Allocative efficiency is achieved when society is producing an appropriate bundle of goods relative to consumer preferences.

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Specialisation and comparative advantage

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Patterns of trade

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