Trade Policies and FDI with an Endogenous Market Structure

Abstract

Given an endogenous market structure, this research investigates the effects of tariff and equivalent quota policies on foreign firms’ FDI decisions. Findings show that foreign firms have symmetric (asymmetric) decisions in terms of FDI versus export under a tariff (quota) policy. Furthermore, FDI is more likely to occur under the tariff than the quota regime, but the former is definitely more (less) desirable than the latter in terms of domestic (world) welfare. Finally, a more cost-efficient firm is more likely to engage in FDI under either the tariff or the quota regime.