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Choked by Red Tape? The Political Economy of Wasteful Trade Barriers

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  • Peter Neary
  • Giovanni Maggi
  • Monika Mrázová

Abstract

Red-tape barriers (RTBs) are an important source of trade costs, but have received little scholarly attention. Here we take a first step toward a theory of RTBs, and show that their implications are very different from those of more traditional trade barriers. Our model highlights that RTBs have important impacts on the extensive margin of trade, and yields rich predictions on how changes in the political-economic environment and product characteristics affect RTBs. Taking into account the endogenous response of RTBs is crucial to understanding the impact of reductions in tariffs and natural trade costs on the extensive and intensive margins of trade, as well as on welfare. Moreover, the availability of RTBs affects in important ways the tariff commitments that are specified in a trade agreement.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Neary & Giovanni Maggi & Monika Mrázová, 2018. "Choked by Red Tape? The Political Economy of Wasteful Trade Barriers," Economics Series Working Papers 847, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:oxf:wpaper:847
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    Cited by:

    1. Lionel Fontagné & Gianluca Orefice & Roberta Piermartini, 2020. "Making small firms happy? The heterogeneous effect of trade facilitation measures," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(3), pages 565-598, August.
    2. Ornelas, Emanuel & Turner, John L., 2024. "The costs and benefits of rules of origin in modern free trade agreements," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    3. Kamei, Keita & Inomata, Kentaro, 2022. "Wasteful Trade Barriers in Oligopoly," MPRA Paper 114541, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Neary, Peter & Carrère, Céline & Mrázová, Monika, 2020. "Gravity without Apologies: The Science of Elasticities, Distance, and Trade," CEPR Discussion Papers 14473, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Céline Carrère & Monika Mrázová & J Peter Neary, 2020. "Gravity Without Apology: the Science of Elasticities, Distance and Trade," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 130(628), pages 880-910.
    6. Ornelas, Emanuel & Tovar, Patricia, 2022. "Intra-bloc tariffs and preferential margins in trade agreements," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    7. Krenz, Astrid & Prettner, Klaus & Strulik, Holger, 2021. "Robots, reshoring, and the lot of low-skilled workers," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    8. Lorz, Oliver, 2020. "Investment in trade facilitating infrastructure: A political-economy analysis," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    9. Chien-Jung Ting & Yi-Long Hsiao, 2020. "Exploring Solutions for the Trade Barriers in Taiwan," Advances in Management and Applied Economics, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 10(5), pages 1-2.
    10. Dale-Olsen, Harald, 2023. "The Impact of New Free Trade Agreements on Incumbent Firms and Workers," IZA Discussion Papers 16649, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    11. Yuan Mei, 2024. "Regulatory Protection And The Role Of International Cooperation," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 65(2), pages 817-850, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    International trade policy; Non-Tari Measures; Political economy; Red tape barriers; Trade agreements;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • D7 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making
    • F55 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Institutional Arrangements

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