Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-1-2-specialisation-and-trade [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [BTEC](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec.md) › [Business](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business.md) › [Business: BTEC Level 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3.md) › Specialisation & Trade # Specialisation & Trade Business: BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma, topic 4.1.2 ## Specialisation and Trade Specialisation relies on trade because economies need to buy the things that they have not specialised in from other countries. Finland produces a lot of paper, but it may need to buy cars from a country like Germany that has specialised in car production. ### Specialised economies need trade ![Specialised economies need trade](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/chemistry/OCR%20Gateway/cash.jpg) - Specialisation means countries often stop making products they need, to focus on producing the products they are better at. - As a result, trade must happen with other countries, and an efficient exchange system is needed. - Money is often used as this medium of exchange because everyone values money. ## Comparative Advantage Free trade can allow countries to specialise in the goods they are most efficient at producing. Trade means that they can buy some goods from other countries, rather than producing them themselves. ### Opportunity cost of production ![Opportunity cost of production](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/4db3acc9-f6d4-4ceb-8097-68abdeb5bf87/1.1.5%20module%201%20PPF%20%20(2).png) - If a country produces sugar, it has an opportunity cost of production. - The labour and capital used to make sugar cannot be used to make wheat at the same time. - E.g. if Brazil can produce a lot of sugar cane per acre but not much wheat, and the US can produce a lot of wheat but not sugar cane, then the US has a lower opportunity cost of producing wheat than Brazil. - This can be shown using production possibility frontiers (PPFs). ### Comparative advantage ![Comparative advantage](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/memory-location-images/Rio%20de%20Janeiro,%20Brazil-min.jpeg) - The US has a comparative advantage in producing wheat. - Brazil has a comparative advantage in producing sugar cane. - If both countries could specialise in producing the goods they had a comparative advantage in, then: - The total world output of goods will rise. - Brazil and the US can trade wheat for sugar cane, and they both benefit. - Think of comparative advantage as what a country is least bad at - they all have to produce something! ### Absolute advantage ![Absolute advantage](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/chemistry/4.1.1%20The%20reactivity%20series/oil-rig-min.jpg) - A country has an absolute advantage in producing a good over another country if it uses fewer resources to produce that good. - E.g. if Saudi Arabia can produce corn and oil more efficiently than the US, but can only produce 100 barrels of oil or 25 bushels of corn, the opportunity cost for Saudi of producing one barrel of oil is the loss of 0.25 bushels of corn. - If the US lost a bushel of corn by producing one barrel of oil, then the US has a comparative, but not absolute advantage in corn. ### Costs of international trade ![Costs of international trade](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/biology/7.5.1%20-%20Food%20Production/container-1611490_640-min.jpg) - Negative externalities such as pollution from freight. - Risk of structural/regional unemployment because employers relocate. - While international trade may benefit skilled workers, it can be bad for low-skilled workers. - Low-skilled workers in developed countries compete against extremely low wage workers worldwide, which is unsustainable. ## Test yourself on Specialisation & Trade - In 2018, which of these industries does the UK NOT specialise in? - Which characteristic of money makes it most useful for trade? - Which term refers to a country which produces a good using fewer resources compared to another country? - Which of the following are costs of international trade? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/f0389213-3369-45a4-8126-07b001bb9007/section/f4704777-b5ab-4cfd-8f7c-10876b9e1880/session) - Previous topic: [4.1.1 Growing Economies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-1-1-growing-economies.md) - Next topic: [4.2.1 Internationalisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-2-1-internationalisation.md) ## Business: BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma contents ### 1 Exploring Business - 1.1 Features of Business Organisations - [1.1.1 Sole Traders & Partnerships](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-1-1-sole-traders-and-partnerships.md) - [1.1.2 Private & Public Limited Companies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-1-2-private-and-public-limited-companies.md) - [1.1.3 Types of Liability & Not-For-Profits](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-1-3-types-of-liability-and-not-for-profits.md) - [1.1.4 Purposes of Businesses](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-1-4-purposes-of-businesses.md) - [1.1.5 Purposes of Businesses 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-1-5-purposes-of-businesses-2.md) - [1.1.6 The Different Economic Sectors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-1-6-the-different-economic-sectors.md) - [1.1.7 Multinational Companies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-1-7-multinational-companies.md) - [1.1.8 Stakeholders](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-1-8-stakeholders.md) - [1.1.9 Influence of Stakeholders](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-1-9-influence-of-stakeholders.md) - 1.2 Organisation of Businesses - [1.2.1 Organisational Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-2-1-organisational-structure.md) - [1.2.2 Types of Organisational Structures](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-2-2-types-of-organisational-structures.md) - [1.2.3 Business Aims & Objectives](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-2-3-business-aims-and-objectives.md) - [1.2.4 Business Aims](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-2-4-business-aims.md) - [1.2.5 Business Objectives](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-2-5-business-objectives.md) - 1.3 Business Environment - [1.3.1 External Influences](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-3-1-external-influences.md) - [1.3.2 Political & Legal Change](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-3-2-political-and-legal-change.md) - [1.3.3 Economic Environment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-3-3-economic-environment.md) - [1.3.4 Social & Technological Environment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-3-4-social-and-technological-environment.md) - [1.3.5 Lifestyle & Technological Environment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-3-5-lifestyle-and-technological-environment.md) - [1.3.6 Corporate Social Responsibility](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-3-6-corporate-social-responsibility.md) - [1.3.7 The Competitive Environment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-3-7-the-competitive-environment.md) - [1.3.8 Innovation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-3-8-innovation.md) - [1.3.9 Risk & Uncertainty](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-3-9-risk-and-uncertainty.md) - [1.3.10 Porter's Five Forces](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-3-10-porters-five-forces.md) - [1.3.11 SWOT Analysis](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/1-3-11-swot-analysis.md) ### 2 Marketing Campaigns - 2.1 Marketing - [2.1.1 Setting Marketing Objectives](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-1-1-setting-marketing-objectives.md) - [2.1.2 Customer Needs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-1-2-customer-needs.md) - [2.1.3 The Market](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-1-3-the-market.md) - [2.1.4 Competition & The Market](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-1-4-competition-and-the-market.md) - [2.1.5 Consumer Behaviour](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-1-5-consumer-behaviour.md) - [2.1.6 Market Research](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-1-6-market-research.md) - [2.1.7 Forms of Market Research](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-1-7-forms-of-market-research.md) - [2.1.8 Market Segmentation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-1-8-market-segmentation.md) - [2.1.9 Cultural & Social Factors in Marketing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-1-9-cultural-and-social-factors-in-marketing.md) - [2.1.10 Promotional Decisions 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-1-10-promotional-decisions-3.md) - [2.1.11 Pricing Strategies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-1-11-pricing-strategies.md) - 2.2 Marketing Mix - [2.2.1 Marketing Mix](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-2-1-marketing-mix.md) - [2.2.2 Product Life Cycle](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-2-2-product-life-cycle.md) - [2.2.3 Pricing Decisions & Price Skimming](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-2-3-pricing-decisions-and-price-skimming.md) - [2.2.4 Pricing Decisions & Price Penetration](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-2-4-pricing-decisions-and-price-penetration.md) - [2.2.5 Promotional Decisions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-2-5-promotional-decisions.md) - [2.2.6 Promotional Decisions 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-2-6-promotional-decisions-2.md) - [2.2.7 Promotional Decisions 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-2-7-promotional-decisions-3.md) - [2.2.8 Market Mapping](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/2-2-8-market-mapping.md) ### 3 Business Finance - 3.1 Sources of Finance - [3.1.1 Internal Finance](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-1-1-internal-finance.md) - [3.1.2 External Finance](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-1-2-external-finance.md) - [3.1.3 External Finance 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-1-3-external-finance-2.md) - [3.1.4 Sources of Business Finance](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-1-4-sources-of-business-finance.md) - 3.2 Financial Planning - [3.2.1 Revenue](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-2-1-revenue.md) - [3.2.2 Costs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-2-2-costs.md) - [3.2.3 Cash & Cash Flow](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-2-3-cash-and-cash-flow.md) - [3.2.4 Cash & Cash Flow 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-2-4-cash-and-cash-flow-2.md) - [3.2.5 Break-Even Analysis](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-2-5-break-even-analysis.md) - [3.2.6 Profits](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-2-6-profits.md) - 3.3 Financial Statements - [3.3.1 Balance Sheets](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-3-1-balance-sheets.md) - [3.3.2 Income Statements](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-3-2-income-statements.md) - [3.3.3 Liquidity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/3-3-3-liquidity.md) ### 4 International Business - 4.1 Globalisation - [4.1.1 Growing Economies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-1-1-growing-economies.md) - [4.1.2 Specialisation & Trade](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-1-2-specialisation-and-trade.md) - 4.2 International Business - [4.2.1 Internationalisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-2-1-internationalisation.md) - [4.2.2 International Trade](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-2-2-international-trade.md) - [4.2.3 MNCS](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-2-3-mncs.md) - [4.2.4 Conditions that Prompt Trade](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-2-4-conditions-that-prompt-trade.md) - [4.2.5 Assessment of a Country](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-2-5-assessment-of-a-country.md) - 4.3 International Economic Environment - [4.3.1 Globalisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-3-1-globalisation.md) - [4.3.2 Factors Contributing to Globalisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-3-2-factors-contributing-to-globalisation.md) - [4.3.3 Protectionism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-3-3-protectionism.md) - [4.3.4 The EU & the WTO](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-3-4-the-eu-and-the-wto.md) - [4.3.5 Trading Blocs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-3-5-trading-blocs.md) - 4.4 Factors Affecting International Business - [4.4.1 Global Competitiveness](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-4-1-global-competitiveness.md) - [4.4.2 Ethics of Global Business](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-4-2-ethics-of-global-business.md) - [4.4.3 Controlling MNCs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-4-3-controlling-mncs.md) - [4.4.4 Cultural & Social Factors in Marketing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/4-4-4-cultural-and-social-factors-in-marketing.md) ### 5 Principles of Management - 5.1 Management & Leadership - [5.1.1 Managers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-1-1-managers.md) - [5.1.2 Management Theories](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-1-2-management-theories.md) - [5.1.3 Managing Organisational Culture](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-1-3-managing-organisational-culture.md) - [5.1.4 Management Style](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-1-4-management-style.md) - 5.2 Theories of Motivation - [5.2.1 Motivating & Engaging Employees](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-2-1-motivating-and-engaging-employees.md) - [5.2.2 Taylor's Theory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-2-2-taylors-theory.md) - [5.2.3 Mayo's Theory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-2-3-mayos-theory.md) - [5.2.4 Maslow's Theory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-2-4-maslows-theory.md) - [5.2.5 Herzberg's Theory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-2-5-herzbergs-theory.md) - 5.3 Managing Change - [5.3.1 Change](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-3-1-change.md) - [5.3.2 Key Factors in Change](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-3-2-key-factors-in-change.md) - [5.3.3 Scenario Planning](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-3-3-scenario-planning.md) - [5.3.4 Managing Change](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-3-4-managing-change.md) - [5.3.5 Managing Strategic Implementation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/5-3-5-managing-strategic-implementation.md) ### 6 Business Decision Making - 6.1 Business Principles & Practices - [6.1.1 Influences in External Environments](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-1-1-influences-in-external-environments.md) - [6.1.2 Product Decisions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-1-2-product-decisions.md) - [6.1.3 Competitive Environment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-1-3-competitive-environment.md) - [6.1.4 Corporate Strategy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-1-4-corporate-strategy.md) - [6.1.5 Quantitative Sales Forecasting](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-1-5-quantitative-sales-forecasting.md) - [6.1.6 Legislation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-1-6-legislation.md) - 6.2 Quality Management - [6.2.1 Importance of Quality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-2-1-importance-of-quality.md) - [6.2.2 Measuring Quality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-2-2-measuring-quality.md) - [6.2.3 Total Quality Management](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-2-3-total-quality-management.md) - [6.2.4 Evaluating TQM](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-2-4-evaluating-tqm.md) - 6.3 Human Resources - [6.3.1 Contracts](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-3-1-contracts.md) - [6.3.2 Recruitment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-3-2-recruitment.md) - [6.3.3 Training a Workforce](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-3-3-training-a-workforce.md) - 6.4 Documents & Business Decisions - [6.4.1 Sales Forecasts](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-4-1-sales-forecasts.md) - [6.4.2 Managing Strategic Implementation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-4-2-managing-strategic-implementation.md) - [6.4.3 Problems with Strategy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/btec/business/business-btec-level-3/6-4-3-problems-with-strategy.md)