Discussion Papers 2018

CIRJE-F-1089

"Free Trade Agreement with Endogenous Market Structure"

Author Name

Pan, Lijun, and Takatoshi Tabuchi

Date

June 2018

Full Paper

PDF File

Remarks

Forthcoming in Japanese Economic Review.

Abstract

We examine the incentives of free trade agreements (FTA) formation between two countries under endogenous market structure with leaders and followers. We demonstrate that establishing an FTA is neither an equilibrium outcome nor social optimum when consumer demand and …fixed cost are intermediate and products are close substitutes. This is because the FTA induces exit of followers, which makes the market less competitive and shrinks the leader'’s production both in the domestic and foreign markets. We also show that developing countries are less likely to establish an FTA than developed countries.