The correct answer is option D: Eli Heckscher and Bertil Ohlin.

The factor endowment theory, also known as the Heckscher-Ohlin theory, was indeed pioneered by Eli Heckscher and Bertil Ohlin, two Swedish economists who developed this trade theory in the early 20th century. Let’s delve into why option D is correct and why the other options are not accurate.

Option D:

Eli Heckscher and Bertil Ohlin Eli Heckscher and Bertil Ohlin were Swedish economists who independently contributed to the development of the factor endowment theory, which is commonly known as the Heckscher-Ohlin theory. This theory focuses on the role of a country’s factor endowments, such as its labor and capital resources, in determining its comparative advantage in international trade.

According to the Heckscher-Ohlin theory, countries tend to specialize in the production of goods that use their abundant factors of production more intensively and export those goods, while importing goods that use their scarce factors of production intensively.

Eli Heckscher laid the foundation for the theory in his 1919 book, “The Effects of Foreign Trade on the Distribution of Income.”

Bertil Ohlin expanded and formalized the theory in his 1933 work, “Interregional and International Trade.” Together, their contributions revolutionized the understanding of international trade and provided a more nuanced explanation for trade patterns beyond David Ricardo’s theory of comparative advantage.

Now, let’s examine why the other options are not correct:

Option A:

Adam Smith Adam Smith is a renowned economist known for his pioneering work in classical economics, particularly for his book “The Wealth of Nations,” published in 1776. While Adam Smith’s ideas laid the groundwork for modern economics, he did not develop the factor endowment theory.

Smith’s theory of absolute advantage and his emphasis on the specialization of labor and division of labor were significant contributions to economic thought, but they differ from the Heckscher-Ohlin theory, which came later and focused on the role of factor endowments.

Option B:

David Ricardo David Ricardo, another influential economist, is best known for his theory of comparative advantage, which he presented in his 1817 book, “Principles of Political Economy and Taxation.”

Ricardo’s theory explains how countries can benefit from specializing in the production of goods in which they have a comparative advantage, even if they do not have an absolute advantage in producing those goods.

While Ricardo’s theory shares some similarities with the Heckscher-Ohlin theory, it is not the same. The Heckscher-Ohlin theory builds upon Ricardo’s work but adds the dimension of factor endowments as a determining factor in trade patterns.

Option C:

Wassily Leontief Wassily Leontief was a Russian-American economist known for his work on input-output analysis and the Leontief Paradox. The Leontief Paradox challenged the predictions of the Heckscher-Ohlin theory by showing that the United States, a capital-abundant country, was exporting labor-intensive goods and importing capital-intensive goods.

While Leontief’s work contributed to the understanding of trade patterns, he did not pioneer the factor endowment theory. In fact, the Leontief Paradox highlighted some of the complexities and limitations of the Heckscher-Ohlin theory, rather than directly contributing to its development.

In summary, option D, “Eli Heckscher and Bertil Ohlin,” is the correct answer because these two Swedish economists are credited with pioneering the factor endowment theory, also known as the Heckscher-Ohlin theory. This theory has had a profound influence on international trade theory and provides insights into the role of a country’s factor endowments in shaping its trade patterns.

While Adam Smith and David Ricardo made significant contributions to economics and trade theory, their work predates the development of the Heckscher-Ohlin theory. Wassily Leontief, on the other hand, is known for his work on the Leontief Paradox, which was a later critique of the Heckscher-Ohlin theory.