Fed in Print
All Title Author Abstract Keywords
Bank Series Content Type Author JEL Classification Keyword

Working Paper Revision

Shortages of Critical Goods in a Global Economy: Optimal Trade and Industrial Policy


Abstract: This paper studies the role for optimal trade and industrial policy to mitigate shortages of critical goods following global shocks. We develop a dynamic model of trade with producers of essential and non-essential goods owned by heterogeneous households under incomplete markets. Shocks that increase global demand for critical goods lead to underinvestment relative to an economy with a representative household or complete markets. Trade exacerbates the shock as producers reallocate domestic sales toward exports. Shortages can be mitigated, increasing welfare, by taxing exports while subsidizing imports and production. These policy changes are consistent with cross-country evidence following recent shocks.

Keywords: international trade; trade policy; industrial policy; shortages of critical goods;

JEL Classification: F1; F5; F6;

https://doi.org/10.20955/wp.2020.010

Access Documents

File(s): File format is application/pdf https://s3.amazonaws.com/real.stlouisfed.org/wp/2020/2020-010.pdf
Description: Full Text

Authors

Bibliographic Information

Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Part of Series: Working Papers

Publication Date: 2023-12

Number: 2020-010

Related Works