In: Economics
Suppose Mexico imposes a tariff on imports. Import Prices
increase from Pw to Pt= Pw+t Using a graph explain the
following
A)What are the effects of imposing a tariff on Consumer
Surplus?
B)What is the effect of imposing a tariff on Producer
Surplus?
C)What is the effect of imposing a tariff on Government
Revenues?
D)What is the overall effect of the tariff?
E)Do you think imposing high tariffs is a good idea? Why?
The initial price is given by Pw where imports are Dw - Sw. After tariff the price is Pt where imports are Dt - St
A)
Consumer Surplus is the area above the price line and below the demand curve.
Initial price line is Pw and thus CS is given by area ABC
After tariff the price line is Pt and the CS is AED
Thus there is a loss of consumer surplus given by area EBCD
b)
Producer surplus is the area above the supply curve and below the price line
Intial PS is given by OFB
After tariff the price line is Pt and the PS = OGE
Thus the producer surplus increases by BEGF
c)
Government revenue increases by imports* tariff
Imports = Dt-St
Tariff = Pt -Pw
Revenue = GHID
d)
Thus change in CS = EBCD
Change in PS = BEGF
Increase in government revenue = GHID
Net loss = GHID - BEGF - GHID = FGH + DIC
e)
Thus imposition of tariff reduced the welfare of the country and generated a deadweight loss. Hence imposing high tariff is not a good idea.