Tariff and quota equivalence in the presence of asymmetric information

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Matschke, X
• 署名单位: University of Wisconsin System; University of Wisconsin Madison
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-1996
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-1996(03)00002-3
• 发表日期: 2003
• 页码: 209-223
• 关键词: strategic trade policy; import restriction equivalence; asymmetric information

摘要

This paper investigates the equivalence of optimal import tariffs and quotas in a Cournot duopoly model when firms have more information about demand than the domestic government. I consider a screening model in which the government offers the domestic firm different contracts from which to choose. I show that the availability and cost of obtaining correct information from the firm depends upon the choice of trade policy instrument. Asymmetric information thus destroys the equivalence of tariffs and quotas, which prevails under complete information, and has a profound impact on how government, firms, and consumers rank different trade policy instruments. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.