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Did US Safeguards Resuscitate Harley-Davidson in the 1980s?

Author

Listed:
  • Taiju Kitano

    (National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies)

  • Hiroshi Ohashi

    (Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo)

Abstract

This paper examines US safeguards applied to the motorcycle market in the 1980s. After receiving temporary protection by means of a maximum tariff of over 45%, Harley-Davidson sales recovered dramatically. Simulations, based on structural demand and supply estimates, indicate that while safeguard tariffs did benefit Harley-Davidson, they only account for a fraction of its increased sales. This is primarily because consumers perceived that Harley-Davidson and Japanese large motorcycles were poorly matched substitutes for each other. Our results provide little evidence that safeguard provisions triggered restructuring in Harley-Davidson.

Suggested Citation

  • Taiju Kitano & Hiroshi Ohashi, 2009. "Did US Safeguards Resuscitate Harley-Davidson in the 1980s?," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-612, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.
    • Handle: RePEc:tky:fseres:2009cf612
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Takechi, Kazutaka, 2020. "Do domestic producers benefit from safeguards? The case of a Japanese safeguard on Chinese vegetable imports in 2001," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    2. Chung, Sunghoon & Lee, Joonhyung & Osang, Thomas, 2016. "Did China tire safeguard save U.S. workers?," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 22-38.
    3. Deborah L. Swenson, 2012. "The Influence of Chinese Trade Policy on Automobile Assembly and Parts," CESifo Economic Studies, CESifo, vol. 58(4), pages 703-730, December.
    4. Jan De Loecker & Johannes Van Biesebroeck, 2016. "Effect of International Competition on Firm Productivity and Market Power," NBER Working Papers 21994, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Taiju Kitano, 2022. "Environmental Policy as a De Facto Industrial Policy: Evidence from the Japanese Car Market," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 60(4), pages 511-548, June.

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