Lobbying and the Structure of Protection

Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP1574

Authors: Olivier Cadot; Jaime de Melo; Marcelo Olarreaga

Abstract: This paper extends the influence-driven model of trade policy determination to include general equilibrium effects on the supply side resulting from labour-market interaction and intermediate goods. The model?s predictions for the structure of protection are related to underlying taste and technology parameters, and we derive analytically several propositions that are consistent with the stylized results of the empirical literature. Finally, numerical simulations are carried out for archetypal ?rich? and ?poor? economies. It turns out that the endogenously-determined structure of protection is broadly consistent with the observed pattern of protection in rich and poor economies, suggesting the usefulness of the approach.

Keywords: endogenous tariff; political economy

JEL Codes: F13


Causal Claims Network Graph

Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.


Causal Claims

CauseEffect
lobbying intensity (D72)higher tariffs (F19)
labor union lobbying (J51)equilibrium rate of protection (F16)
intra-industry trade (F14)reduced equilibrium rate of protection (F16)

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