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International Trade, Upstream Market Power, and Endogenous Mode of Downstream Competition

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Abstract

In a trade model with both horizontal and vertical product differentiation, we analyze the implications of upstream market power for the endogenous mode of downstream competition. We show that when high-quality exports are manufactured under large frictions due to upstream monopoly power, the exporter can become a Bertrand competitor against a Cournot local rival in equilibrium, especially when the relative product quality of the foreign variety is sufficiently high and trade costs are sufficiently low (implying higher input price distortions due to double marginalization). We also show that the availability of FDI as an alternative to trade can make strategic asymmetry even more likely, especially when both input trade costs and fixed investment costs are sufficiently low and trade costs in final goods are sufficiently large. Our results show that strategic asymmetry is welfare improving and has important implications for both trade and FDI policy.

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  • John Gilbert & Onur A. Koska & Reza Oladi, 2020. "International Trade, Upstream Market Power, and Endogenous Mode of Downstream Competition," Working Papers in Economics 20/22, University of Canterbury, Department of Economics and Finance.
    • Handle: RePEc:cbt:econwp:20/22
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Elizabeth Schroeder & Victor Tremblay, 2015. "A Reappraisal of Strategic Trade Policy," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 435-442, December.
    2. Onur A. Koska, 2020. "Sourcing product quality for foreign market entry," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 156(3), pages 669-702, August.
    3. John Gilbert & Onur A. Koska & Reza Oladi, 2022. "International trade, differentiated goods, and strategic asymmetry," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 88(3), pages 1178-1198, January.
    4. John Gilbert & Onur A. Koska & Reza Oladi, 2020. "Product Quality and Strategic Asymmetry in International Trade," Working Papers in Economics 20/05, University of Canterbury, Department of Economics and Finance.
    5. Hackner, Jonas, 2000. "A Note on Price and Quantity Competition in Differentiated Oligopolies," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 93(2), pages 233-239, August.
    6. Elizabeth Schroeder & Victor J. Tremblay, 2016. "Strategic advertising policy in international oligopoly markets," The International Trade Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(1), pages 3-13, January.
    7. Maurice Kugler & Eric Verhoogen, 2012. "Prices, Plant Size, and Product Quality," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 79(1), pages 307-339.
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    JEL classification:

    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation

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