INFANT INDUSTRY PROTECTION IN THE STEEL RAIL INDUSTRY

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: HEAD, K
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-1996
• DOI: 10.1016/0022-1996(94)90043-4
• 发表日期: 1994
• 页码: 141-165
• 关键词: infant industry; PROTECTION; learning-by-doing

摘要

This paper examines a particular instance of infant industry protection: the case of the U.S. steel rail industry. It analyzes the joint roles of learning-by-doing, changing resource endowments, and tariff protection in the emergence of this industry. Making use of estimated demand and cost parameters, the paper simulates what would have happened to prices, production, and welfare under free trade. I calculate that, despite strong learning effects, the steel rail tariff hurt rail users in both the short and long runs. The tariff's overall effect on welfare was positive but fairly small.