A Ricardian Model with Endogenous Comparative Advantage and Endogenous Trade Policy Regimes |
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Authors: | WEN LI CHENG MENG-CHUN LIU XIAOKAI YANG |
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Institution: | Law &Economics Consulting Group, Wellington, New Zealand;Department of Economics, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168;Department of Economics, Monash University, and Harvard Centre for International Development |
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Abstract: | This paper develops a Ricardian model with transaction costs and endogenous and exogenous comparative advantages. It shows that the level of division of labour and trade increases as transaction conditions improve. It identifies the conditions for trade negotiations that result in zero tariff rates and the conditions for the coexistence of unilateral tariff protection and unilateral laissez faire policies. The model may explain the policy transformation of some European governments from Mercantilism to laissez faire in the 18th and 19th century and policy changes in developing countries from protection tariff to trade liberalization and tariff negotiation. |
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