Comparative Advantage Around the World
Select a country of your choice (other than Saudi Arabia) and discuss its comparative advantage. What are the sources and the challenges?
What is the role of the government? What policies should the government implement to enhance the comparative advantage?
Directions:
Discuss the concepts, principles, and theories from your textbook. Cite your textbooks and cite any other sources if appropriate.
Your initial post should address all components of the question with a 500 word limit.
Reply to at least two discussion posts with comments that further and advance the discussion topic
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Comparative Advantage Around the World: The Case of Germany
Germany is a country renowned for its strong economy and global competitiveness. It possesses several comparative advantages that contribute to its success in various industries. This essay will explore Germany’s comparative advantage, the sources and challenges associated with it, and the role of the government in enhancing this advantage.
Germany’s comparative advantage lies in its highly skilled workforce, technological innovation, and strong manufacturing sector. The country has a well-developed education system that emphasizes vocational training, providing workers with technical skills that are in high demand globally. This skilled labor force contributes to Germany’s expertise in engineering, automotive manufacturing, machinery, and precision instruments.
Furthermore, Germany is known for its technological innovation. The country invests heavily in research and development (R&D) and has a robust network of research institutions, universities, and technology clusters. This focus on innovation enables German companies to develop cutting-edge products and technologies, giving them a competitive edge in the global market.
Germany’s strong manufacturing sector is another source of its comparative advantage. German companies have a reputation for producing high-quality goods that are reliable and durable. The country’s manufacturing prowess extends across various industries, including automotive, machinery, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. This manufacturing expertise allows Germany to export its products worldwide and maintain a positive trade balance.
Despite its comparative advantages, Germany also faces challenges. One major challenge is the rising cost of labor. The highly skilled workforce demands higher wages, which can make German products more expensive compared to those produced in countries with lower labor costs. To overcome this challenge, Germany must continue to invest in productivity-enhancing technologies and processes to maintain cost competitiveness.
Another challenge is the increasing competition from emerging economies. Countries such as China and India are rapidly developing their manufacturing capabilities and technological expertise. This poses a threat to Germany’s comparative advantage, as these countries can offer lower-cost alternatives. To address this challenge, Germany must continuously innovate and adapt to changing market dynamics.
The role of the government in enhancing Germany’s comparative advantage is crucial. The government plays a significant role in supporting research and development activities through funding programs and incentives. For instance, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research provides grants to support R&D projects and collaborations between businesses and research institutions.
Additionally, the government can implement policies to foster collaboration between academia, industry, and government agencies. This collaboration can drive innovation and knowledge transfer, allowing for the commercialization of research findings. The government can also invest in infrastructure development to support industries and improve connectivity, which is essential for efficient logistics and supply chain operations.
Moreover, the government can promote international trade by negotiating favorable trade agreements and eliminating barriers to trade. This will facilitate the export of German goods and services to global markets. Furthermore, the government should support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by providing financial assistance, access to markets, and business development support. SMEs play a crucial role in driving innovation and contributing to Germany’s comparative advantage.
In conclusion, Germany’s comparative advantage lies in its skilled workforce, technological innovation, and strong manufacturing sector. The government plays a vital role in enhancing this advantage by supporting R&D activities, promoting collaboration between academia and industry, investing in infrastructure development, and facilitating international trade. However, Germany must also address challenges such as rising labor costs and increasing competition from emerging economies to sustain its comparative advantage in the global market.
References:
Hill, C., & Hult, G. (2020). International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace (12th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Statista Research Department. (2021). Key figures on research and development in Germany. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/443858/germany-research-and-development-key-figures/
