[RightWhale]

Am I the only one who lacks an economic theory lobe in his brain? This stuff is killer.

[CobaltBlue]

Comparative advantage is famously hard to grasp using just words, and the explanation which forms the basis for this thread isn't the best one I've seen.

A numerical model of comparative advantage:
http://www.systemics.com/docs/ricardo/david.html
Another numerical model of comparative advantage:
http://internationalecon.com/v1.0/ch40/40c130.html
Walter Williams essay on comparative advantage:
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/walterwilliams/ww20030514.shtml
Walter Williams essay on tariffs:
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/walterwilliams/ww20040225.shtml
From The Economist - a recent essay on comparative advantage:
http://www.economist.com/opinion/displayStory.cfm?story_id=2442040

Even Paul Krugman, a liberal, understands comparative advantage:
http://web.mit.edu/krugman/www/ricardo.htm