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Per unit versus ad valorem taxes under strategic bilateral trade

Author

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  • Gagnie Pascal Yebarth

    (EconomiX, UPL, Université Paris Nanterre)

Abstract

This paper compares ad valorem and per-unit taxes in a bilateral market where all traders have market power. To do so, we use a simple prototype of strategic market games, namely bilateral oligopoly models, and show that ad valorem taxation welfare-dominates per-unit taxation under strategic bilateral trade. Moreover, ad valorem and per-unit taxes have qualitatively different effects on strategic equilibrium offers.

Suggested Citation

  • Gagnie Pascal Yebarth, 2025. "Per unit versus ad valorem taxes under strategic bilateral trade," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 45(1), pages 384-391.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-24-00481
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    File URL: http://www.accessecon.com/Pubs/EB/2025/Volume45/EB-25-V45-I1-P35.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Blackorby, Charles & Murty, Sushama, 2007. "Unit versus ad valorem taxes: Monopoly in general equilibrium," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(3-4), pages 817-822, April.
    2. Kuang-Cheng Andy Wang & Ping-Yao Chou & Wen-Jung Liang, 2018. "Specific versus ad valorem taxes in the presence of cost and quality differences," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 25(5), pages 1197-1214, October.
    3. Shiou-Yen Chu & Tsaur-Chin Wu, 2023. "Ad valorem versus unit taxes on capital in a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 30(6), pages 1435-1456, December.
    4. D. B. Suits & R. A. Musgrave, 1953. "Ad Valorem and Unit Taxes Compared," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 67(4), pages 598-604.
    5. Skeath, Susan E. & Trandel, Gregory A., 1994. "A Pareto comparison of ad valorem and unit taxes in noncompetitive environments," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 53(1), pages 53-71, January.
    6. Delipalla, Sofia & Keen, Michael, 1992. "The comparison between ad valorem and specific taxation under imperfect competition," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(3), pages 351-367, December.
    7. Lisa Grazzini, 2006. "A Note on Ad Valorem and Per Unit Taxation in an Oligopoly Model," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 89(1), pages 59-74, October.
    8. Christos Kotsogiannis & Konstantinos Serfes, 2014. "The Comparison of ad Valorem and Specific Taxation under Uncertainty," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 16(1), pages 48-68, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gagnie Pascal Yebarth, 2025. "On Taxation Policy in Strategic Bilateral Exchange: A review," EconomiX Working Papers 2025-34, University of Paris Nanterre, EconomiX.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C7 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory
    • H2 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue

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