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Effective Rates of Protection in an Industrialising, Settler Economy: Estimates for Victoria (Australia) in 1880

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  • Brian D. Varian

Abstract

This study estimates effective rates of protection for 33 manufacturing industries in Victoria in 1880. It emerges that several industries received negative effective rates of protection. Overall, the effective rates of protection suggest that the magnitude of protection in late-nineteenthcentury Victoria was considerably less than in the other industrialising, settler economies of Canada and the United States—to a more pronounced degree than suggested by nominal tariff levels. The very high correlation between nominal tariffs and effective rates of protection exhibited by colonial Victoria should enhance the confidence of economic historians using the former as a proxy for the latter.

Suggested Citation

  • Brian D. Varian, 2025. "Effective Rates of Protection in an Industrialising, Settler Economy: Estimates for Victoria (Australia) in 1880," CEH Discussion Papers 02, Centre for Economic History, Research School of Economics, Australian National University.
    • Handle: RePEc:auu:hpaper:128
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    File URL: https://cbe.anu.edu.au/researchpapers/CEH/WP202502.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. G. R. Hawke, 1975. "The United States Tariff and Industrial Protection in the Late Nineteenth Century," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 28(1), pages 84-99, February.
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    4. Harris, Richard & Keay, Ian & Lewis, Frank, 2015. "Protecting infant industries: Canadian manufacturing and the national policy, 1870–1913," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 15-31.
    5. Réka Juhász & Claudia Steinwender, 2024. "Industrial Policy and the Great Divergence," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 16(1), pages 27-54, August.
    6. John K. Wilson & Martin P. Shanahan, 2012. "Did Good Institutions Produce Good Tariffs? Evidence From Tariff Protection In Colonial Victoria," Australian Economic History Review, Economic History Society of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 52(2), pages 128-147, July.
    7. Brian D. Varian, 2024. "Market integration and a lower-productivity economy: the case of Australian federation and Queensland’s manufacturing sector, 1897–1906," CEH Discussion Papers 06, Centre for Economic History, Research School of Economics, Australian National University.
    8. Alexander, Patrick D. & Keay, Ian, 2019. "Responding to the First Era of Globalization: Canadian Trade Policy, 1870–1913," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 79(3), pages 826-861, September.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Australia; effective rate of protection; manufacturing; tariffs; Victoria;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • N67 - Economic History - - Manufacturing and Construction - - - Africa; Oceania
    • N77 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - Africa; Oceania

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