There has been great focus in the recent trade theory literature on the introduction of firm heterogeneity into trade models. This introduction has highlighted the importance of the entry/exit decision of firms in response to changes in trade barriers. However, it is typical in many of these models to use iceberg transport costs as a general form of trade barriers that can be interchangeable wi...

We present a methodology allowing to introduce manufacturers and retailers vertical contracting in their pricing strategies on a differentiated product market. We consider in particular two types of non linear pricing relationships, one where resale price maintenance is used with two part tariffs contracts and one where no resale price maintenance is allowed in two part tariffs contracts. Our c...

In this paper, we analyze the issue of optimal tariffs when the Northern and Southern firms compete in quantities in an imperfectly competitive Northern market and there are Ž . potentially varying degrees of intellectual property rights IPR violation by the South. IPR Ž . violation is reflected through the leakage of technological knowledge ‘‘spillovers’’ from the Northern to the Southern firm...

This paper explores the links between international trade theory and the practice of trade and industrial policy in open economies, with special attention to three areas where theoretical lessons have been misunderstood in policy debates. I argue that the ‘concertina rule’ for tariff reform justifies reductions in high tariffs, but not moves towards uniformity, and particularly not increases in...

The international experience demonstrates that, the best water and sewerage services are those where the cost are fully paid for by the consumer, through the establishment of tariffs. This includes investment costs and operational costs. Whenever the tariffs are settled below the full service costs either the tax-payers end up paying the bill, thus subsidizing inefficient service providers or, ...

In many service industries, firms introduce three-part tariffs to replace or complement existing two-part tariffs. While both twoand three-part tariffs have been studied in the extant literature, to our best knowledge there have been no empirical studies of customer choice and usage when both types of tariffs are on offer. A pertinent question in that context is whether three-part tariff usage ...

Using the Laffont, Rey and Tirole (1998) framework, a model of competition between vertically integrated telecommunications networks in a deregulated environment is developed. Two local operators compete in linear and non linear tariffs (i.e. two-part tariffs) in the subscribers market. In addition, they are integrated downstream in a potentially competitive sector (i.e. long distance sector) w...

We examine multinationals’ optimal entry modes into foreign markets as a function of market size, FDI fixed costs, tariffs and transport costs. Our results highlight why large countries are more likely to attract acquisition investment, while intermediate sized countries may be served predominantly through trade, even in the presence of high tariffs. Small countries are most likely to experienc...

This paper argues that trade liberalization has a potentially significant impact on financial leverage. We compare the predictions of the trade-off model of capital structure with the pecking order model. In the first case, we suggest that trade liberalization affects the trade-off between the tax advantages of debt and expected bankruptcy costs. This implies that a reduction in domestic tariff...

We propose a model of flexible trade agreements in which verifying the prevailing contingencies is possible but costly. Two types of flexibility emerge: contingent protection, which requires governments to verify the state of the world, and discretionary protection, which allows governments to set tariffs unilaterally. The structure of the GATT/WTO agreement provides these two types of flexibil...