Here are at least two things that add to gains from trade:
Shared Equipment:
If you have to independently produce pickaxes, trucks, rails, a smeltery, etc. before you are able to spend your N units of human effort to mine the N units of iron you need, you can gain by purchasing the (right to use the) mine and equipment someone else already produced and isn’t using right now/any more.
and
Intellectual Property:
Imagine you have to additionally find where to mine for iron, invent a shovel, and also independently discover that there even is such a thing as iron and that it is useful for whatever purpose.
Here are at least two things that add to gains from trade:
Shared Equipment:
If you have to independently produce pickaxes, trucks, rails, a smeltery, etc. before you are able to spend your N units of human effort to mine the N units of iron you need, you can gain by purchasing the (right to use the) mine and equipment someone else already produced and isn’t using right now/any more.
and
Intellectual Property:
Imagine you have to additionally find where to mine for iron, invent a shovel, and also independently discover that there even is such a thing as iron and that it is useful for whatever purpose.
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From the FAQ page: