Journal of Forest Economics > Vol 20 > Issue 4

Benefits and costs of impeding free trade: Revisiting British Columbia's restrictions on log exports

G. Cornelis van Kooten, kooten@uvic.ca
 
Suggested Citation
G. Cornelis van Kooten (2014), "Benefits and costs of impeding free trade: Revisiting British Columbia's restrictions on log exports", Journal of Forest Economics: Vol. 20: No. 4, pp 333-347. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jfe.2014.09.004

Publication Date: 0/12/2014
© 0 2014 G. Cornelis van Kooten
 
Subjects
 
Keywords
JEL Codes:F13F14Q23Q27Q28
International tradeLog exportsForest industryQuota rents
 

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In this article:
Introduction 
Background 
Welfare economics of log export restrictions 
Implementing the trade model 
Results 
Concluding discussion 

Abstract

The government of British Columbia (BC) imposes restrictions on the export of logs from public and private forestlands, primarily to promote local processing and associated employment benefits. Most economists wholeheartedly oppose BC's export restrictions, arguing that BC's citizens are worse off as a result of the government's measures. In this paper, it is shown that, while free trade in logs might well maximise global wellbeing, it might not necessarily result in the greatest benefit to BC. Indeed, both economic theory and a follow-up numerical analysis indicate that some restrictions on the export of logs can lead to higher welfare for BC than free trade. Thus, log export restrictions could be economically efficient from a local perspective, but only if the transaction costs of obtaining necessary permits are not excessive.

DOI:10.1016/j.jfe.2014.09.004