Implications of Liberalization of Trade on Economic Welfare of Producers and Consumers of Basmati Rice
Main Article Content
Abstract
This paper examines the welfare effects of trade liberalization on Basmati rice within Pakistan’s economy. Welfare gains (or losses) in terms of consumer and producer were estimated for the pre- and post-WTO periods. Welfare gains associated with the then existing protection policies were compared with those when these policies were removed, if trade were fully liberalized for both periods. The analysis reveals that there has been a significant difference between domestic and foreign prices, suggesting tax on producers of Basmati rice in both pre- and post-WTO periods. However, the quantum of difference was comparatively less during the post-WTO period. Welfare analysis estimated higher losses for producers compared to gains to the consumers during both pre- and post-WTO periods. However, losses in the producers’ surplus were comparatively less during the post-WTO period, suggesting that certain measures were adopted by government in line with the WTO regime. Similarly simulation results demonstrate greater gains to producers than losses to consumers in the case of world market being liberalized. It is recommended that government needs to curtail tariff related interventions and, besides improving the pace of trade liberalization at domestic level, it should pursue WTO’s negotiations for early implementation of WTO’s trade liberalization on the international level.
Downloads
Article Details
Submission of a manuscript implies: that the work described is original, has not been published before (except in the form of an abstract or as part of a published lecture, review, or thesis); that is not under consideration for publication elsewhere; that its publication has been approved by all co-authors, if any, as well as tacitly or explicitly by the responsible authorities at the institution where the work was carried out. Transfer of copyright to the University of Malaya becomes effective if and when the article is accepted for publication. The copyright covers the exclusive right to reproduce and distribute the article, including reprints, translations, photographic reproductions, microform, electronic form (offline and online) or other reproductions of similar nature.
An author may self-archive the English language version of his/her article on his/her own website and his/her institutions repository; however he/she may not use the publishers PDF version which is posted on www.ijie.um.edu.my. Furthermore, the author may only post his/her version, provided acknowledgement is given to the original source of publication and a link must be accompanied by the following text: The original publication is available at www.ijie.um.edu.my.
All articles published in this journal are protected by copyright, which covers the exclusive rights to reproduce and redistribute the article (e.g. as offprint), as well as all translation rights. No material published in this journal may be reproduced photographically or stored on microfilm, in electronic database, video disks, etc., without first obtaining written permission from the publishers. The use of general descriptive names, trade names, trademarks, etc., in this publication, even if not specifically identified, does not imply that these names are not protected by the relevant laws and regulations.
The copyright owners consent does not include copying for general distribution, promotion, new works, or resale. In these cases, specific written permission must first be obtained from the publishers.