Comparative Advantage Short Online Modules for Teachers and Students

In the Comparative Advantage modules, students meet Jack Of All Trades, a most awesome superhero. In all tasks, Jack can do everything better and faster (he has absolute advantage), but does that mean he must do everything while the rest of the people stand around helplessly? Find out if justice is served when a formerly idle citizen, Andy, wades through the depths of opportunity cost and the benefits of comparative advantage.

Teachers: To register your students for one or more of our online courses, visit the Econ Lowdown Teacher Portal.
Learn more about our online courses »

Take one or more of five short modules or the complete module:

Jack of All Trades: Absolute Advantage

In this module, students are introduced to absolute advantage, the ability to produce more of a good or service than another producer using the same amount of resources as that producer.

Jack of All Trades: Comparative Advantage

In this module, students learn that even when absolute advantage exists, two parties can still benefit from trading, if they do so according to their comparative advantage.

Jack of All Trades: Production Possibilities Frontier

In this module, students learn about the production possibilities curve, a graphic representation of output combinations that can be produced given an economy’s available resources and technology.

Jack of All Trades: Advanced Specialization

In this module, students use their knowledge of the production possibilities curve to determine how specialization in production can yield greater global consumption.

Jack of All Trades: Benefits of Trade

In this module, students learn that economies can experience greater consumption through specialization and trade. They also determine terms of trade.

Comparative Advantage

Also view our online module Comparative Advantage. This module consolidates all five of the Jack of All Trades short modules into one complete online module.

---

If you have difficulty accessing this content due to a disability, please contact us at 314-444-8624 or economiceducation@stls.frb.org.

Find More Economics and Personal Finance Resources

Back to Top