Trade Wars and Trade Talks

44 Pages Posted: 27 Apr 2000 Last revised: 12 Sep 2022

See all articles by Gene M. Grossman

Gene M. Grossman

Princeton University - Princeton School of Public and International Affairs; Princeton University - Department of Economics; CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute); Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Elhanan Helpman

Harvard University - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Date Written: February 1993

Abstract

Whether governments clash in trade disputes or negotiate over trade agreements, their actions in the international arena reflect political conditions back home. Previous studies of cooperative and noncooperative trade relations have focused on governments that are immune from political pressures and that act as benevolent servants of the public interest. Here we take a first step toward introducing domestic politics into the analysis of international economic relations. We study the interactions between national leaders who are concerned both with providing a high standard of living to the general electorate and collecting campaign contributions from special interest groups. The analysis reveals the determinants of the structure of protection in a noncooperative trade war and in a cooperative trade agreement.

Suggested Citation

Grossman, Gene M. and Helpman, Elhanan, Trade Wars and Trade Talks (February 1993). NBER Working Paper No. w4280, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=227053

Gene M. Grossman (Contact Author)

Princeton University - Princeton School of Public and International Affairs ( email )

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Elhanan Helpman

Harvard University - Department of Economics ( email )

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