Dr. Shirin Mollah explores how comparative advantage shapes success in sports, from individual athletes to entire nations. She breaks down this economic principle through various examples, starting with basketball players who specialize in specific skills to benefit their team. The discussion extends to baseball's designated hitter rule and how it maximizes team efficiency. Moving to the global stage, she examines why certain countries excel in specific sports, like Jamaica's dominance in sprinting and Scandinavian success in winter sports. The episode highlights interesting cases like Australia's swimming prowess, attributed to natural advantages like climate and infrastructure. A fascinating example of breaking comparative advantage comes from LA Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, who excels at both hitting and pitching - a rare feat only previously seen with Babe Ruth. The episode connects these sports examples back to fundamental economic principles of trade and specialization.
