Working Paper: NBER ID: w7639
Authors: Douglas A. Irwin
Abstract: Were high import tariffs somehow related to the strong U.S. economic growth during the late nineteenth century? This paper examines this frequently mentioned but controversial question and investigates the channels by which tariffs could have promoted growth during this period. The paper shows that: (i) late nineteenth century growth hinged more on population expansion and capital accumulation than on productivity growth; (ii) tariffs may have discouraged capital accumulation by raising the price of imported capital goods; (iii) productivity growth was most rapid in non-traded sectors (such as utilities and services) whose performance was not directly related to the tariff.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: F13; N11; O47
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| High import tariffs (F14) | Economic growth (O00) |
| High import tariffs (F14) | Capital accumulation (E22) |
| Population expansion and capital accumulation (E22) | Economic growth (O00) |
| Tariffs (F19) | Prices of imported capital goods (F14) |
| Prices of imported capital goods (F14) | Capital accumulation (E22) |
| Tariffs (F19) | Productivity growth in nontraded sectors (O49) |