Contrary to theoretical predictions, empirical evidence shows that an increase in trade liberalization causes an increase in foreign direct investment. We propose an explanation for this apparent puzzle by exploiting Dastidar's approach, which delivers a continuum of Bertrand–Nash equilibria ranging above marginal cost pricing. We show that allowing for softer price competition may indeed more than offset the standard effect generated by a decrease in trade costs, thereby restoring foreign direct investment incentives."> Contrary to theoretical predictions, empirical evidence shows that an increase in trade liberalization causes an increase in foreign direct investment. We propose an explanation for this apparent puzzle by exploiting Dastidar's approach, which delivers a continuum of Bertrand–Nash equilibria ranging above marginal cost pricing. We show that allowing for softer price competition may indeed more than offset the standard effect generated by a decrease in trade costs, thereby restoring foreign direct investment incentives."> Contrary to theoretical predictions, empirical evidence shows that an increase in trade liberalization causes an increase in foreign direct investment. ">
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Trade costs, FDI incentives, and the intensity of price competition

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  • Giuseppe Francesco Gori
  • Luca Lambertini
  • Alessandro Tampieri
Abstract
type="main" xml:lang="en"> Contrary to theoretical predictions, empirical evidence shows that an increase in trade liberalization causes an increase in foreign direct investment. We propose an explanation for this apparent puzzle by exploiting Dastidar's approach, which delivers a continuum of Bertrand–Nash equilibria ranging above marginal cost pricing. We show that allowing for softer price competition may indeed more than offset the standard effect generated by a decrease in trade costs, thereby restoring foreign direct investment incentives.

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  • Giuseppe Francesco Gori & Luca Lambertini & Alessandro Tampieri, 2014. "Trade costs, FDI incentives, and the intensity of price competition," International Journal of Economic Theory, The International Society for Economic Theory, vol. 10(4), pages 371-385, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ijethy:v:10:y:2014:i:4:p:371-385
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    1. Dastidar, Krishnendu Ghosh, 1995. "On the Existence of Pure Strategy Bertrand Equilibrium," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 5(1), pages 19-32, January.
    2. James R. Markusen, 2004. "Multinational Firms and the Theory of International Trade," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262633078, April.
    3. Andreas Haufler & Ian Wooton, 2001. "Regional Tax Coordination and Foreign Direct Investment," CESifo Working Paper Series 628, CESifo.
    4. Janeba, Eckhard, 1995. "Corporate income tax competition, double taxation treaties, and foreign direct investment," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 56(2), pages 311-325, February.
    5. Haufler, Andreas & Wooton, Ian, 1999. "Country size and tax competition for foreign direct investment," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(1), pages 121-139, January.
    6. Raff, Horst, 2004. "Preferential trade agreements and tax competition for foreign direct investment," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(12), pages 2745-2763, December.
    7. Collie, David R., 2011. "Multilateral trade liberalisation, foreign direct investment and the volume of world trade," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 113(1), pages 47-49, October.
    8. Andr, Francisco J. & Gonzlez, Paula & Porteiro, Nicols, 2009. "Strategic quality competition and the Porter Hypothesis," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 57(2), pages 182-194, March.
    9. Ronald B. Davies & Hartmut Egger & Peter Egger, 2010. "Profit taxation and the mode of foreign market entry," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 43(2), pages 704-727, May.
    10. Ignatius J. Horstmann & James R. Markusen, 2021. "Endogenous market structures in international trade (natura facit saltum)," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: BROADENING TRADE THEORY Incorporating Market Realities into Traditional Models, chapter 2, pages 25-45, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    11. Rowthorn, R E, 1992. "Intra-industry Trade and Investment under Oligopoly: The Role of Market Size," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 102(411), pages 402-414, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kazuhiro Takauchi & Tomomichi Mizuno, 2022. "Endogenous transport price, R&D spillovers, and trade," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(5), pages 1477-1500, May.
    2. Kazuhiro Takauchi & Tomomichi Mizuno, 2019. "Is competition in the transport industry bad?A welfare analysis of R&D with inter-regional transportation," Discussion Papers 1910, Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University.
    3. F. Delbono & L. Lambertini, 2015. "Bertrand versus Cournot with Convex Variable Costs," Working Papers wp994, Dipartimento Scienze Economiche, Universita' di Bologna.
    4. Flavio Delbono & Gemma Dipoppa & Luca Lambertini & Carlo Reggiani, 2017. "A Single Espresso, Please! Rationalizing Espresso Price Dispersion Across Italian Cities," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 465-478, December.
    5. Delbono, Flavio & Lambertini, Luca, 2016. "Ranking Bertrand, Cournot and supply function equilibria in oligopoly," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 73-78.
    6. Tomomichi Mizuno & Kazuhiro Takauchi, 2020. "Optimal Export Policy With Upstream Price Competition," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 88(2), pages 324-348, March.
    7. Flavio Delbono & Luca Lambertini, 2022. "Optimal emission taxation and the Porter hypothesis under Bertrand competition," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 93(3), pages 755-765, September.
    8. Kangsik Choi & Seonyoung Lim, 2023. "Sequential tariffs with increasing marginal costs," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 91(4), pages 336-360, July.
    9. Mumtaz Hussain Shah, 2017. "Inward FDI in East Asian & Pacific Developing Countries due to WTO Led Liberalisation," Business & Economic Review, Institute of Management Sciences, Peshawar, Pakistan, vol. 9(2), pages 1-20, June.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business

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