Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Economics

PDF

Economics Staff Paper Series

Illegal imports

Publication Year

Articles 1 - 3 of 3

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

The Effect Of Uncertainty On A Joint Product Model Of Smuggling, Scott Fausti Sep 1992

The Effect Of Uncertainty On A Joint Product Model Of Smuggling, Scott Fausti

Economics Staff Paper Series

Extending the seminal work of Bhagwati and Hansen (1973) on smuggling, Pitt (1981) developed a new approach to investigate the welfare effect of smuggling. This paper develops an extension of Pitt's original model which allows many of the interesting features of the Bhagwati and Hansen model to be revaluated within a joint product model of smuggling framework. The extension is made through the following modifications to Pitt's assumptions: 1) firms that export are free to engage in joint product smuggling or strictly legal trade; and 2) uncertainty is introduced into the model via active government enforcement. The modifications enable the …


The Empirical Issue Of Smuggling: A Discussion Of Methodology, Scott Fausti Feb 1992

The Empirical Issue Of Smuggling: A Discussion Of Methodology, Scott Fausti

Economics Staff Paper Series

The theoretical results attained from the literature on Illegal Transactions in International Trade suggest: 1) a positive link between the duty levied and the level of smuggling effort; 2) a nonnegative domestic relative price effect; and 3) an ambiguous social welfare effect. The theoretical results predict the generation of some type of distortion. The literature labels these distortions "disparities" and divides them into three categories: price, value, and quantity. These distortions represent the empirically measurable effects of smuggling on the domestic economy. This paper makes the proposition that the "price disparity" distortion is the variable that empirical studies should examine …


Smuggling And Parallel Markets For Exports, Scott Fausti Oct 1991

Smuggling And Parallel Markets For Exports, Scott Fausti

Economics Staff Paper Series

This paper proposes a model of smuggling consistent with the coexistence of firms involved in strictly legal trade with firms involved in smuggling. A framework is presented in which a firm's degree of risk aversion and the level of government enforcement are the determining factors in the decision of the firm to smuggle or not to smuggle. The model demonstrates that smuggling must be welfare enhancing or all smuggling activity will end. This paper also provides a theoretical analysis of the effect enforcement has on smuggling and welfare. Increased enforcement is shown to have a negative effect on welfare. Government …