The First 100 Years of Tariffs in Australia: the Colonies |
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| Authors: | Peter Lloyd |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Economics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, AustraliaI would like to thank Jonathon Pincus, Andrew Seltzer, Jeffrey Williamson and two anonymous referees for their helpful suggestions |
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| Abstract: | This paper reviews the history of tariffs imposed by the six Australian colonies during the nineteenth century. In each of the colonies, we identify the starting dates for the first tariffs, first preferences, and other features, and the turning points in the levels of tariffs. We then construct a time series of the average tariff levels in the individual colonies and an average for all six colonies combined. The conclusion notes general features of the pattern of tariffs and how the main features of colonial tariffs, such as the favourable treatment of intermediate inputs, the complex differentiation of tariff rates within industries, and the protection implicit in the excise tax system all carried over to the Commonwealth Customs Tariff in the twentieth century. |
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| Keywords: | colonies protection revenue tariffs |
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