Tariffs, Quotas, and Market Structure

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of tariffs and quotas on the pricing pattern of producers in the case of duopoly by a domestic monopolist and a foreign monopolist. It is pointed out that tariffs and quotas may induce completely different pricing patterns in the two producers. Under a quota, it is always profitable for the home producer to be a price leader and for the foreign producer to be a follower, whereas under a tariff either producer may become a leader. It is also proved that, whatever leader-follower relation is chosen under a tariff, a quota always bring about a higher domestic price than the tariff as long as both permit the same amount of imports.