Reference no: EM132593465

Japanese officials are considering a new tariff on imported pork products from the United States in an attempt to reduce Japan's reliance on U.S. pork. Due to political pressure, the U.S. International Trade Representative's (ITR) office is also considering a new tariff on imported steel from Japan. Officials in both Japan and the U.S. must assess the social welfare ramifications of their tariff decisions.

Reports from a reliable think-tank indicate the following:

1) If neither country imposes a new tariff, social welfare in Japan's economy will remain at $10 billion and social welfare in the United States will remain at $50 billion.

2) If both countries impose a new tariff, welfare in the United States declines to $49.1 billion and welfare in Japan declines to $9.5 billion.

3) If Japan does not impose a tariff but the United States does, projected welfare in Japan is $8.9 billion while welfare in the United States is $52.5 billion.

4) Finally, if the U.S. does not impose a tariff but Japan does, welfare is projected at $48.2 billion in the United States and $11.4 billion in Japan.

Question 1: Determine the Nash equilibrium outcome when policy makers in the two countries simultaneously but independently make tariff decisions in a myopic (one-shot) setting.

Option 1: (48.2,11.4)

Option 2: (50,10)

Option 3: (52.5,8.9)

Option 4: (49.1,9.5)

Question 2: Is it possible for the two countries to improve their social welfare if they are able to "agree" to different strategies?

No - they cannot both be better off even if they are able to "agree" on their strategies.
Yes - they could both be better off if they are able to "agree" on their strategies.