Skill, Land and Trade: A Simple Analytical Framework

Abstract

This paper proposes a minimal model of the relationship between human resources and foreign trade in developing countries, aimed at making it easier for economists working in these two fields to communicate with one another. The model combines familiar ingredients in a framework which is rigorous but not technically difficult, and simple but not unrealistic. The model is subjected to some preliminary tests, using readily available data, and various extensions and possible further research are outlined.