Searches on "international trade comparative advantage" will turn up some more links, as will combinations of other search terms with the two words "comparative advantage." I hope these links get you started in your admirable efforts at self-education.
Those look good just glancing over them. To move beyond simple comparative advantage (if you're interested) I would recommend looking into the Heckscher-Ohlin theorem as well. It expands upon comparative advantage adding another level of complexity and more insight. Empirically the theorem has been mostly proven, something that not all economic theories are able to pass.
Nice, neat, simple equations and math, at the Macro level.
To put this in hacker terms, these simple rules are about as simple as the http protocol. Now imagine the software that implements this simple protocol. Think of all the different ways to exploit it. Now imagine all the complex systems that can be created using these simple rules. Now add hackers, DDOS, government censorship, wikileaks, peering disputes, etc.
Economists would have us believe that these simple rules are "how it is". Now imagine the millions of people it takes to actually implement these simple rules. Imagine what it takes to actually make wine in Portugal. Now add that these people want pensions. Now include that these simple rules assume currency equivalence, or something like the gold standard to mediate production disparities. Now add the governments on top of this "protocol".
To believe this "proven economic theory" you have to live in a virtual machine.
As you read these wonderful theories, remember that economist who was chosen as the best economist to run the US Federal Reserve said in 2005 that "now is the best time to get an ARM".
These genius suggested buying a house on an adjustable rate mortgage, at the peak of the market, when interest rates were the lowest they'd ever been. Bravo. Apparently, even the best economist in the USA is unable to see a bubble when its staring him in the face.
Fuck economists and their religion. Welcome to HN: where people have brains, can do math, and critical thinking.
Years ago Paul Krugman wrote one of the best explanations of international trade and why so much of it is so counterintuitive so many: http://web.mit.edu/krugman/www/ricardo.htm.
http://iang.org/free_banking/david.html
http://www.netmba.com/econ/micro/comparative-advantage/
http://www.econlib.org/library/Topics/Details/comparativeadv...
http://www.econ.umn.edu/~lepetyuk/Econ1101/lecture12.pdf
http://www.flatworldknowledge.com/pub/international-trade-th...
Searches on "international trade comparative advantage" will turn up some more links, as will combinations of other search terms with the two words "comparative advantage." I hope these links get you started in your admirable efforts at self-education.