Comparing quotas with VERs: A three-region,North-South-NICs macroeconomic analysis

The paper presents a three-region macro-economic model of the North, South and NICs. Discriminatory commercial policy is undertaken by the North against the South and the NICs: a quota is used against the former and a VER against the latter. Contrary to most of the existing literature on macro-commercial policy, the initiator of the policy (the North) could gain from such a mixed commercial policy in terms of output and employment. This would normally be at the expense of the South (lower terms of trade), whereas the terms of trade for the NICs could improve, although not necessarily.