Regulatory Theory and its Application to Trade Policy A Study of ITC Decision-Making, 1975-1985 Routledge Library Editions: International Trade Policy Series

The purpose of this book, first published in 1990, is to explain the varying levels of protection from foreign competition across US industries by focusing on factors that affect both the supply of and demand for the regulation of trade. What circumstances lead industries to request protection, and what factors affect the government?s decision of whether or not to supply that protection? What factors best explain the actions of interest groups and the decisions of regulators? This detailed study answers these key questions and more.

1. History of Trade Legislation and the Role of the International Trade Commission 1.1. History 1.2. ITC Archives 2. Literature Review 2.1. Theories of Protection and Tariff Rates in the US 2.2. Theories of the Supply for and Demand of Trade Regulation 2.3. Theories of Regulation by the ITC 3. Theories of Regulation with an Application to Protectionism 3.1. Capture Theories 3.2. Becker’s Pressure Group Model 3.3. Protectionism and Becker’s Model 4. Data and Econometrics 4.1. Economic Theory 4.2. Data 4.3. Econometrics 4.4. Estimations and Specification Tests 4.5. Results 5. Conclusions