This paper examines the effect of import tariffs on the decision of a foreign monopolist to adopt “clean” technology – technology that reduces the flow of a negative cross-border externality per unit of exports. The clean technology is assumed to increase the marginal cost of production relative to the dirty technology, but only the firm knows the extent of the increase. Under complete information, we show that, despite its protectionist motivation, the importing country’s optimal tariff induces the firm to adopt the clean technology if and only if it is globally efficient to do so. Under incomplete information, this efficiency property is disrupted. If the optimal tariff is decreasing in the marginal cost, then it leads the firm to bias its choice in favor of dirty technology. Classification-JEL Codes: F13, F18
Download Info
To download:
If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the
proper application to
view it first. Information about this may be contained
in the File-Format links below. In case of further problems read
the IDEAS help
page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS
site. Please be patient as the files may be large.
Publisher Info
Paper provided by Georgetown University, Department of Economics in its series Working Papers with number
gueconwpa~06-06-09.
Length: Date of creation: Date of revision: Handle: RePEc:geo:guwopa:gueconwpa~06-06-09
Contact details of provider: Postal: Georgetown University Department of Economics Washington, DC 20057-1036 Phone: 202-687-6074 Fax: 202-687-6102 Email: Web page: http://econ.georgetown.edu/
Order Information: Postal: Marcia Suss Administrative Officer Georgetown University Department of Economics Washington, DC 20057-1036 Email: Web: http://econ.georgetown.edu/
For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its listing, contact: (Marcia Suss).
Related research
Keywords:
This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports: