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Trade exposure and electoral protectionism: evidence from Japanese politician-level data

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  • Banri Ito

    (Aoyama Gakuin University)

Abstract

This study empirically examines the causal impact of economic shocks of trade on trade policy positions by candidates who run for national elections using politician-level data of Japan during the period from 2009 to 2014. The focus of this research is an examination of how the influence of trade shocks, measured by import competition with China on politicians’ trade policy stance, is related to election pressure. The results revealed that an increase in import exposure deters candidates from supporting trade liberalization, even after considering offset by export exposure. Among other points, this protectionist effect is more pronounced for challengers than for incumbents, and for candidates who run for the Lower House election and are exposed to stronger pressures of elections than those who run for the Upper House election. Taking these findings into account, politicians who face trade shocks tend to appeal to protectionist trade policies as the pressures of elections become stronger.

Suggested Citation

  • Banri Ito, 2021. "Trade exposure and electoral protectionism: evidence from Japanese politician-level data," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 157(1), pages 181-205, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:weltar:v:157:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s10290-020-00392-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10290-020-00392-0
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    Cited by:

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    3. Kagitani, Koichi & Harimaya, Kozo, 2019. "Electoral rules and free trade agreements as a campaign issue: The case of political disputes over the Trans-Pacific Partnership in Japan," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 126-137.
    4. ARA Tomohiro & Arpita CHATTERJEE & Arghya GHOSH & ZHANG Hongyong, 2019. "Input Tariff in Oligopoly: Entry, heterogeneity, and demand curvature," Discussion papers 19066, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Trade policy; Protectionism; Election; Electoral competition;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations

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