@article{Liefert:262209,
      recid = {262209},
      author = {Liefert, William M. and Westcott, Paul C.},
      title = {Alternative Policies to Agricultural Export Taxes That Are  Less Market Distorting},
      address = {2015-06-01},
      number = {1477-2017-3975},
      series = {Economic Research Report 187},
      pages = {33},
      year = {2015},
      abstract = {In response to the surges in world agricultural and food  prices that have occurred since  2006, many countries  imposed controls on their agricultural exports, using  taxes,  quotas, and complete export bans. Further, during  the past few decades, many countries  have maintained  longstanding export taxes not only on agricultural goods,  but also on  forestry and fishery products, minerals,  metals, and precious stones. This study examines the market  effects of a conventional export tax, as well as three  alternative policies that are less market distorting, and  thereby less welfare diminishing: a subsidy to   consumption, a tax on production, and a modification of a  conventional export tax that  allows additional exports  after producers meet a sales requirement for their output.  All  three alternatives result in more exports of affected  goods than the unmodified tax does.  The increased exports  will thereby benefit foreign consumers, and if the country  is a  large exporter of an affected good on the world  market, the benefit is larger, because  the additional  exports will lower the good’s world purchase price.  Increased global sales  and lower prices will improve world  food security and benefit the consuming poor of the  world,  especially if the affected product is a staple food such as  wheat or rice. Policies  that pursue such goals are  consistent with U.S. efforts to improve world food  security.  However, the alternative policies are "second  best" options because they are less effective at increasing  both domestic and world economic welfare than the first  best policy of  abolishing the export tax and allowing free  export.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/262209},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.262209},
}