ABSTRACT

David Ricardo’s theories have been widely studied and discussed, including the prominent theory on comparative advantage. Ricardo and International Trade looks at the ongoing renaissance of the Ricardian international trade theory. The book’s interpretation brings fresh insights into and new developments on the Ricardian international trade theory by examining the true meaning of the ‘four magic numbers’. By putting together theories of comparative advantage and international money, the book attempts to elucidate Ricardo’s international trade theory in the real world.

This book also features contributions from the Japanese perspective and compares Ricardian theories with those of his contemporaries, such as Malthus, Torrens and J. S. Mill. This book will be a valuable reference for researchers and scholars with interests in history of economic thought and international economics.

chapter |6 pages

Introduction

Ricardo’s international trade theory 200 years on

part I|75 pages

Ricardo’s ‘four magic numbers’ and beyond

part II|133 pages

Money and/or international values

chapter 8|25 pages

Foreign trade, international values, and gains from trade

Ricardo, Pennington, Whewell, and John Stuart Mill

chapter 9|31 pages

Equilibrium in the international economy

Ricardo’s specie flow mechanism – logic and development

part III|55 pages

Controversies over Ricardian international trade theory and policy

chapter 11|18 pages

Foreign trade, profits, and growth

A comparative study of Ricardo and Malthus

chapter 12|17 pages

J. S. Mill’s idea of international trade

The inheritance from Ricardo’s free trade and Torrens’ reciprocity *