RE: Re: Re: RE: Export tax subsidies that aren't?

2002-02-05 Thread Max Sawicky

 In a world in which transaction demand on the current account was the sole
 basis for forex markets, with constant PPP and never a whiff of pricing to
 market, then this type of analysis would make sense.  We're not
 in that world, however. Peter



AND . . . . ???

mbs




RE: Re: RE: Export tax subsidies that aren't?

2002-02-04 Thread Max Sawicky

Depends on the price elasticity.  If the price of jellybeans goes down,
do you spend more or less on jellybeans?  But I should beg off on this.
I don't do trade.  --mbs


 Wouldn't a decrease in the total cost of goods lead to a *decrease* in the
 demand for dollars?  In which case, the rest of the mechanism:

  cost of dollar (and good, in importer's currency) go up, cost advantage
  disappears.

 would be thrown into reverse, and the currency swings would reinforce the
 effect of the original subsidy.

 Michael
 __
 Michael PollakNew York [EMAIL PROTECTED]





Re: Re: RE: Export tax subsidies that aren't?

2002-02-04 Thread Peter Dorman

In a world in which transaction demand on the current account was the sole
basis for forex markets, with constant PPP and never a whiff of pricing to
market, then this type of analysis would make sense.  We're not in that world,
however.

Peter

Michael Pollak wrote:

 On Wed, 30 Jan 2002, Max Sawicky wrote:

  The mainstream argument is that exchange rates adjust to wash away all
  tax advantages, whether legal or illegal.
 
  Not being a trade person, the best argument I can think of goes like
  this: If you want to buy US goods, you need dollars to pay for them.  A
  cost reduction in said goods [due to tax rebates for exports] increases
  demand for dollars relative to other currencies,

 Wouldn't a decrease in the total cost of goods lead to a *decrease* in the
 demand for dollars?  In which case, the rest of the mechanism:

  cost of dollar (and good, in importer's currency) go up, cost advantage
  disappears.

 would be thrown into reverse, and the currency swings would reinforce the
 effect of the original subsidy.

 Michael
 __
 Michael PollakNew York [EMAIL PROTECTED]




Re: RE: Re: RE: Export tax subsidies that aren't?

2002-02-04 Thread Peter Dorman

Max, this is governed by the, ahem, Marshall-Lerner conditions: the sum of
import and export price elasticities must be greater than one.  People who study
such things say the conditions are always met, but the structuralist tradition
holds that they are met only within limits.  This is something I've always
wanted to look at but never got around to.

Peter

Max Sawicky wrote:

 Depends on the price elasticity.  If the price of jellybeans goes down,
 do you spend more or less on jellybeans?  But I should beg off on this.
 I don't do trade.  --mbs

  Wouldn't a decrease in the total cost of goods lead to a *decrease* in the
  demand for dollars?  In which case, the rest of the mechanism:
 
   cost of dollar (and good, in importer's currency) go up, cost advantage
   disappears.
 
  would be thrown into reverse, and the currency swings would reinforce the
  effect of the original subsidy.
 
  Michael
  __
  Michael PollakNew York [EMAIL PROTECTED]