Trade Policy and Redistribution when Preferences are Non-Homothetic
Working Paper 23237
DOI 10.3386/w23237
Issue Date
We compare redistribution through trade restrictions vs. domestic lump-sum transfers. When preferences are non-homothetic, even domestic lump-sum transfers affect relative prices. Thus, contrary to the conventional wisdom, domestic lump-sum transfers are not necessarily superior to distortionary trade policy. We develop this argument in the context of food export bans imposed by many developing countries in the late 2000s.
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Copy CitationQuy-Toan Do and Andrei A. Levchenko, "Trade Policy and Redistribution when Preferences are Non-Homothetic," NBER Working Paper 23237 (2017), https://doi.org/10.3386/w23237.
Published Versions
Do, Quy-Toan & Levchenko, Andrei A., 2017. "Trade policy and redistribution when preferences are non-homothetic," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 92-95. citation courtesy of