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Optimal Tariffs, Tariff Jumping, and Heterogeneous Firms

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  • Matthew T. Cole (University College Dublin) Ronald B. Davies (University College Dublin)

Abstract

The majority of research to date investigating strategic tariffs in the presence of multinationals finds a knife-edge result where, in equilibrium, all foreign firms are either multinationals or exporters. Utilizing a model of heterogeneous firms, we find equilibria in which both pure exporters and multinationals coexist. We utilize this model to study the case of endogenously chosen tariffs. As is standard, Nash equilibrium tariffs are higher than the socially optimal tariffs. Unlike existing models with homogeneous firms, we find that non-cooperative tariffs promote the existence of low-productivity firms relative to the socially optimal tariffs. This highlights a new source of inefficiency from tariff competition not found in models of homogeneous firms. In addition, we find that in many cases the Nash equilibrium tariff when FDI is a potential firm structure is lower than when it is not. As a result, FDI improves welfare by mitigating tariff competition.

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Paper provided by IIIS in its series The Institute for International Integration Studies Discussion Paper Series with number iiisdp302.

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Date of creation: 10 2009
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Handle: RePEc:iis:dispap:iiisdp302

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  1. Bruce A. Blonigen & Ronald B. Davies & Keith Head, 2002. "Estimating The Knowledge-Capital Model of the Multinational Enterprise: Comment," University of Oregon Economics Department Working Papers 2002-13, University of Oregon Economics Department, revised 01 Mar 2002.
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Cited by:
  1. Christian Bauer & Ronald B. Davies & Andreas Haufler, 2011. "Economic integration and the optimal corporate tax structure with heterogeneous firms," The Institute for International Integration Studies Discussion Paper Series iiisdp373, IIIS.
  2. Ronald Davies & Lourenço Paz, 2011. "Tariffs versus VAT in the presence of heterogeneous firms and an informal sector," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer, vol. 18(5), pages 533-554, October.
  3. Pflüger, Michael P. & Russek, Stephan, 2010. "Trade and Industrial Policies with Heterogeneous Firms: The Role of Country Asymmetries," IZA Discussion Papers 5387, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA).
  4. Christian Josef Bauer & Dominika Langenmayr, 2012. "Sorting into Outsourcing: Are Profits Taxed at a Gorilla's Arm's Length?," CESifo Working Paper Series 3967, CESifo Group Munich.
  5. Anna Bohnstedt, 2013. "Spillovers from Foreign Exporters," Ruhr Economic Papers 0400, Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universität Dortmund, Universität Duisburg-Essen.
  6. Felbermayr, Gabriel & Jung, Benjamin & Larch, Mario, 2013. "Optimal tariffs, retaliation, and the welfare loss from tariff wars in the Melitz model," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(1), pages 13-25.
  7. Silvio Contessi, 2010. "What happens when Wal-Mart comes to your country? multinational firms' entry, productivity, and inefficiency," Working Papers 2010-043, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

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