Absolute Advantage

You're seven feet tall, have a vertical leap of 49", and hands large enough to wrap around a cantaloupe. You, my friend, belong in the NBA. You have an absolute advantage over nearly every other human being on the planet. Be sure you see the Shmoop tax section when you get your signing bonus check. Absolute advantage applies to individuals, countries, regions, and cultures. Germany has a car-loving culture, such that children suck on Hot Wheels for comfort after breast-feeding. The average German kid can change the oil, spark plugs, and antifreeze while driving blindfolded on the Autobahn, listening to "99 Luftballoons" at full blast.

Because their culture simply loves cars and has done so more or less since they were invented, Germany has an absolute advantage in designing, manufacturing, and servicing cars. The same doctrine applies to oil in the Middle East, where it simply bubbles out of sink faucets...excellent surfing teams in Australia and Hawaii (way better than the teams in Uzbekistan)...and when it comes to the production of Argentinians? Well, Argentina has the absolute advantage, hands down. Cry for me.