- Rybczynski theorem
The Rybczynski theorem was developed in 1955 by the Polish-born English economist
Tadeusz Rybczynski (1923-1998). The theorem states: At constant relative goods prices, a rise in the endowment of one factor will lead to a more than proportional expansion of the output in the sector which uses that factor intensively, and an absolute decline of the output of the other good.In the context of the
Heckscher-Ohlin model ofinternational trade , open trade between regions means changes in relative factor supplies between regions can lead to an adjustment in quantities and types of outputs between regions that would return the system toward equality of production input prices like wages across countries (the state offactor price equalization ).Relationship between endowments and outputs
The Rybczynski theorem displays how changes in an endowment affects the outputs of the goods when full
employment is sustained. The theorem is useful in analyzing the effects of capital investment,immigration andemigration within the context of a Heckscher-Ohlin model. Consider the diagram below, depicting a labour constraint in red and a capital constraint in blue. Suppose production occurs initially on theproduction possibility frontier (PPF) at point A.Suppose there is an increase in the labour endowment. This will cause an outward shift in the labour constraint. The PPF and thus production will shift to point B. Production of clothing, the labour intensive good, will rise from "C"1 to "C"2. Production of cars, the capital-intensive good, will fall from "S"1 to "S"2.
If the endowment of capital rose the capital constraint would shift out causing an increase in car production and a decrease in clothing production. Since the labour constraint is steeper than the capital constraint, cars are capital-intensive and clothing is labor-intensive.
In general, an increase in a country's endowment of a factor will cause an increase in output of the good which uses that factor intensively, and a decrease in the output of the other good.
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