Discriminatory vs. uniform tariffs with international technology licensing

Abstract

This paper introduces technology licensing between rival firms into a three-country model to examine how an international technology licensing may upset the welfare ranking between a discriminatory tariff policy and a uniform tariff policy. It is found that a discriminatory tariff policy is inferior to a uniform tariff policy in terms of the social welfare of the importing country or the welfare of the world as a whole if the cost disadvantage of the licensor firm is high. This result is robust even if the licensor firm can engage in R&D investment in the long-run.