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Subjects · Leaving Cert Economics

Leaving Cert Economics: Trade & comparative advantage

How often Trade & comparative advantage comes up on the Economics papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 3 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

OL Asked on 5 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Trade & comparative advantage, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Trade & comparative advantage.

(a)A country has a comparative advantage in a good when it can produce it…
  1. Using more resources than others
  2. At a lower opportunity cost than others
  3. At a higher price than others
(b)In A a worker makes 10 cheese or 5 wine; in B, 6 cheese or 6 wine. What should A specialise in?
  1. Neither: there are no gains from trade
  2. Wine
  3. Cheese
(c)Which is a form of protectionism?
  1. A tariff on imported steel
  2. Removing import quotas
  3. A free trade agreement
Show the answers

(a) At a lower opportunity cost than others

(b) Cheese

(c) A tariff on imported steel

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Trade & comparative advantage.

Higher Level

Asked on 3 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q3, Q13
2024Not asked
2023Q14
2022Not asked
2021Q14

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 5 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q14
2024Q14
2023Q13
2022Q15
2021Q11, Q15

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Trade & comparative advantage questions

Trade & comparative advantage, 2 marks

A country should specialise in goods where it has?

  1. An absolute disadvantage
  2. The highest import prices
  3. A comparative advantage
Show the answer

A comparative advantage

Comparative advantage means making a good at a lower opportunity cost than other countries. By specialising and trading, both countries can consume more.

Trade & comparative advantage, 2 marks

Which is a benefit of international trade?

  1. Higher prices for consumers
  2. Wider choice of goods for consumers
  3. Less competition for home firms
Show the answer

Wider choice of goods for consumers

Trade lets us buy goods we cannot make, like bananas, and lets firms sell into bigger markets. More competition also tends to keep prices down.

Trade & comparative advantage, 2 marks

A tax placed on imported goods is called?

  1. A tariff
  2. A quota
  3. A subsidy
Show the answer

A tariff

A tariff raises the price of imports so that home-made goods look cheaper. A quota is a limit on the quantity that can be imported.

Other Economics topics

All of Leaving Cert Economics