IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ecmode/v151y2025ics0264999325001944.html

The effects of consumer goods tariff reductions on market competition in China

Author

Listed:
  • Yang, Jijun
  • Liu, Yifan
  • Dai, Feng
  • Ni, Jinlan

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of import tariff reductions on domestic market competition, addressing the gap in trade liberalization research related to consumer goods. Using data from the China Stock Market & Accounting Research (CSMAR) database and the World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS) database covering the period from 2010 to 2019, we employ a two-level utility function to analyze how tariffs influence domestic market competition. Our analysis reveals a significant relationship between tariff reductions and increased market competition, driven by both price effects and innovation through the learning-by-doing process. The core results vary by firm characteristics, including ownership type, firm size, location, degree of marketization, and infrastructure development. These findings have important policy implications for trade liberalization, suggesting that reducing import tariffs on consumer goods is essential for improving market competition.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang, Jijun & Liu, Yifan & Dai, Feng & Ni, Jinlan, 2025. "The effects of consumer goods tariff reductions on market competition in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:151:y:2025:i:c:s0264999325001944
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2025.107199
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264999325001944
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.econmod.2025.107199?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Defever, Fabrice & Imbruno, Michele & Kneller, Richard, 2020. "Trade liberalization, input intermediaries and firm productivity: Evidence from China," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    2. Jean Tirole, 1988. "The Theory of Industrial Organization," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262200716, December.
    3. Philippe Aghion & Nick Bloom & Richard Blundell & Rachel Griffith & Peter Howitt, 2005. "Competition and Innovation: an Inverted-U Relationship," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 120(2), pages 701-728.
    4. Loren Brandt & Johannes Van Biesebroeck & Luhang Wang & Yifan Zhang, 2019. "WTO Accession and Performance of Chinese Manufacturing Firms: Corrigendum," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 109(4), pages 1616-1621, April.
    5. Grossman, Gene M & Helpman, Elhanan, 1994. "Protection for Sale," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 84(4), pages 833-850, September.
    6. Nina Pavcnik, 2002. "Trade Liberalization, Exit, and Productivity Improvements: Evidence from Chilean Plants," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 69(1), pages 245-276.
    7. Nickell, Stephen J, 1996. "Competition and Corporate Performance," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 104(4), pages 724-746, August.
    8. Robert C. Feenstra & David E. Weinstein, 2017. "Globalization, Markups, and US Welfare," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 125(4), pages 1040-1074.
    9. Madan Dhanora & Ruchi Sharma & Manu Jose, 2020. "Two-way relationship between innovation and market structure: evidence from Indian high and medium technology firms," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(2), pages 147-168, February.
    10. Mumtaz Ahmad & Imtiaz Ahmad, 2024. "Tariff pass-through and implications for domestic markets: Evidence from U.S. steel imports," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(3), pages 482-496, April.
    11. Xiaosong Wang & Huan Wu & Le Li & Lu Liu, 2022. "Uncertainty, GVC participation and the export of Chinese firms," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(3), pages 634-661, July.
    12. Teng Zhang & Qiuyao Fu & Chunhui Zhu, 2022. "Trade liberalization, credit constraints, and export quality upgrading," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 63(1), pages 499-524, July.
    13. Kyle Handley & Nuno Limão, 2018. "Policy Uncertainty, Trade, and Welfare: Theory and Evidence for China and the United States," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Policy Externalities and International Trade Agreements, chapter 5, pages 123-175, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    14. Jishun Zhou & Xiaoyu Hong, 2023. "What You Import Matters," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 59(8), pages 2456-2469, June.
    15. Cristóbal Campoamor, Adolfo, 2021. "North-South trade liberalization and factor reallocations between manufacturing and R&D," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 277-294.
    16. Nicholas Bloom & Mark Schankerman & John Van Reenen, 2013. "Identifying Technology Spillovers and Product Market Rivalry," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 81(4), pages 1347-1393, July.
    17. Sofronis Clerides & Manthos D. Delis & Sotirios Kokas, 2015. "A New Data Set On Competition In National Banking Markets," Financial Markets, Institutions & Instruments, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(2-3), pages 267-311, May.
    18. Dixit, Avinash K & Stiglitz, Joseph E, 1977. "Monopolistic Competition and Optimum Product Diversity," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 67(3), pages 297-308, June.
    19. Zhang, Hongsheng & Liu, Qingqing & Wei, Yueling, 2023. "Digital product imports and export product quality: Firm-level evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    20. Huang, Qiongyu & Xu, Chuhong & Xue, Xiaolong & Zhu, Hui, 2023. "Can digital innovation improve firm performance: Evidence from digital patents of Chinese listed firms," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    21. Mary Amiti & Jozef Konings, 2007. "Trade Liberalization, Intermediate Inputs, and Productivity: Evidence from Indonesia," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 97(5), pages 1611-1638, December.
    22. Toshiaki Takahashi & Hajime Takatsuka & Dao-Zhi Zeng, 2013. "Spatial inequality, globalization, and footloose capital," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 53(1), pages 213-238, May.
    23. Nicholas Bloom & Mirko Draca & John Van Reenen, 2016. "Trade Induced Technical Change? The Impact of Chinese Imports on Innovation, IT and Productivity," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 83(1), pages 87-117.
    24. Tan, Weiqiang & Xie, Chenxin & Ye, Dezhu, 2024. "Do urban educational resources affect corporate labor costs?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    25. Mary Amiti & Stephen J. Redding & David E. Weinstein, 2019. "The Impact of the 2018 Tariffs on Prices and Welfare," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 33(4), pages 187-210, Fall.
    26. Marc J. Melitz, 2003. "The Impact of Trade on Intra-Industry Reallocations and Aggregate Industry Productivity," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 71(6), pages 1695-1725, November.
    27. Li, Hai & Qing, Qiankai & Wang, Juan & Hong, Xianpei, 2021. "An analysis of technology licensing and parallel importation under different market structures," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 289(1), pages 132-143.
    28. Gao, Ya & Li, Bing & Sun, Weizeng, 2023. "Resource curse on innovation: A perspective on local mining industry monopolies in resource-based cities in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    29. A. P. Lerner, 1934. "The Concept of Monopoly and the Measurement of Monopoly Power," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 1(3), pages 157-175.
    30. Magacho, Guilherme R. & McCombie, John S.L. & Guilhoto, Joaquim J.M., 2018. "Impacts of trade liberalization on countries’ sectoral structure of production and trade: A structural decomposition analysis," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 70-77.
    31. Mukherjee, Subhadip & Chanda, Rupa, 2021. "Tariff liberalization and firm-level markups in Indian manufacturing," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    32. Egger, Peter H. & Loumeau, Gabriel & Loumeau, Nicole, 2023. "China's dazzling transport-infrastructure growth: Measurement and effects," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    33. Baccini, Leonardo & Guidi, Mattia & Poletti, Arlo & Yildirim, Aydin B., 2022. "Trade Liberalization and Labor Market Institutions," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 76(1), pages 70-104, January.
    34. Per Krusell & Lee E. Ohanian & JosÈ-Victor RÌos-Rull & Giovanni L. Violante, 2000. "Capital-Skill Complementarity and Inequality: A Macroeconomic Analysis," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 68(5), pages 1029-1054, September.
    35. Michael Koetter & James W. Kolari & Laura Spierdijk, 2012. "Enjoying the Quiet Life under Deregulation? Evidence from Adjusted Lerner Indices for U.S. Banks," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 94(2), pages 462-480, May.
    36. Feenstra, Robert & Kee, Hiau Looi, 2008. "Export variety and country productivity: Estimating the monopolistic competition model with endogenous productivity," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(2), pages 500-518, March.
    37. Nina Pavcnik & Andreas Blom & Pinelopi Goldberg & Norbert Schady, 2004. "Trade Liberalization and Industry Wage Structure: Evidence from Brazil," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 18(3), pages 319-344.
    38. Kapri, Kul, 2016. "Productivity, firm size and trade liberalization in a partner country: Evidence from Korean firm-level data," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 572-583.
    39. Jonathan Eaton & Samuel Kortum, 2002. "Technology, Geography, and Trade," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 70(5), pages 1741-1779, September.
    40. Mallick, Sushanta & Marques, Helena, 2012. "Pricing to market with trade liberalization: The role of market heterogeneity and product differentiation in India’s exports," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 31(2), pages 310-336.
    41. Yao Liu & Arijit Mukherjee, 2013. "The Effects of Trade Liberalization in a Vertical Structure," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(5), pages 966-973, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Philippe Aghion & Richard Blundell & Rachel Griffith & Peter Howitt & Susanne Prantl, 2009. "The Effects of Entry on Incumbent Innovation and Productivity," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 91(1), pages 20-32, February.
    2. Iacovone, Leonardo & Rauch, Ferdinand & Winters, L. Alan, 2013. "Trade as an engine of creative destruction: Mexican experience with Chinese competition," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(2), pages 379-392.
    3. Fieler, Ana Cecília & Harrison, Ann E., 2023. "Escaping import competition in China," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    4. Myeongwan Kim, 2019. "Does Import Competition Reduce Domestic Innovation? Evidence from the 'China Stock' and Firm-Level Data on Canadian Manufacturing," CSLS Research Reports 2019-03, Centre for the Study of Living Standards.
    5. Myeongwan Kim, 2019. "Does Import Competition Reduce Domestic Innovation? Evidence from the 'China Stock' and Firm-Level Data on Canadian Manufacturing," CSLS Research Reports 2019-03, Centre for the Study of Living Standards.
    6. Chen, Cheng, 2019. "Trade liberalization, agency problem and aggregate productivity," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 421-442.
    7. Amiti, Mary & Dai, Mi & Feenstra, Robert C. & Romalis, John, 2020. "How did China's WTO entry affect U.S. prices?," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    8. Pardy, Martina, 2025. "Multinationals and intra-regional innovation concentration," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 127983, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    9. Benavente, José Miguel & Zuñiga, Pluvia, 2022. "How Does Market Competition Affect Firm Innovation Incentives in Emerging Countries? Evidence from Chile and Colombia," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 12198, Inter-American Development Bank.
    10. Nicholas Bloom & Philip Bunn & Scarlet Chen & Paul Mizen & Pawel Smietanka & Gregory Thwaites, 2019. "The Impact of Brexit on UK Firms," NBER Working Papers 26218, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    11. Shen, Binchao, 2025. "Intermediated trade and innovation," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    12. Iacovone, Leonardo, 2012. "The better you are the stronger it makes you: Evidence on the asymmetric impact of liberalization," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(2), pages 474-485.
    13. Liu, Qing & Ma, Hong, 2020. "Trade policy uncertainty and innovation: Firm level evidence from China’s WTO accession," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    14. Gerda Dewit & Dermot Leahy, 2016. "Strategic R&D Commitment and the Gains from Trade," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(5), pages 1129-1148, November.
    15. Aurelien Quignon, 2022. "Market Regulation and Innovation: Direct and Indirect Effects," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 429-456, December.
    16. McManus, T. Clay & Schaur, Georg, 2016. "The effects of import competition on worker health," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 160-172.
    17. Pham, Hoang, 2023. "Trade reform, oligopsony, and labor market distortion: Theory and evidence," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    18. Chen, Cheng & Steinwender, Claudia, 2021. "Import competition, heterogeneous preferences of managers, and productivity," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    19. Brugués, Felipe & Kikkawa, Ayumu Ken & Mei, Yuan & Robles, Pablo, 2025. "The impact of NAFTA on prices and competition: Evidence from Mexican manufacturing plants," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    20. Ruiyang Hu & Chen Yin & Zhijie Zheng & Sili Zhou, 2024. "Unlocking Innovation: The Impact of Free Trade Zones on Corporate Innovation in China," Working Papers 202414, University of Macau, Faculty of Business Administration.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:151:y:2025:i:c:s0264999325001944. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inca/30411 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.