2009年-世界发展银行全球_Political_Economy_of_Anglo-French_Trade_1689-1899___Agricultural_Trade_Policies_Alcohol_Taxes_and_War_19页_554kb

Summary of "Political Economy of Anglo-French Trade, 1689-1899: Agricultural Trade Policies, Alcohol Taxes, and War"

Core Content

This working paper by John V.C. Nye challenges the conventional narrative that Britain was a free trader throughout the 19th century. It argues that Britain maintained high and often prohibitive tariffs on French imports, particularly on alcohol, for a significant portion of the 18th and 19th centuries, even after the repeal of the Corn Laws in the 1840s.

Main Points

• Contrary to Popular Belief: Britain was not a free trader for most of the 1800s. Despite the repeal of the Corn Laws, it retained higher tariffs than France until the late 19th century.
• Impact of War: The War with Louis XIV (1689–1713) led to the cessation of Anglo-French trade for 25 years. This period allowed the development of protected domestic interests, especially in the brewing and wine industries.
• Protectionist Policies: High tariffs on wine and spirits were imposed not only to protect domestic industries but also to generate revenue. These tariffs were more binding than those on other goods and were often not offset by equivalent domestic excises.
• Economic Distortions: These tariffs significantly distorted trade and consumption patterns. They excluded cheap French wines and promoted the consumption of beer and spirits, shaping British "taste" and influencing the domestic market.
• Revenue Generation: Protection of domestic industries enabled the state to collect substantial revenues through excises, without increasing taxes on land and property. This contributed to the growth of the British state and its rise as a global power.
• Role of the Methuen Treaty: The 1704 Methuen Treaty granted England preferential access to Portuguese wine, which helped establish Portugal as a key supplier of alcohol to Britain, further entrenching protectionist policies.
• Reforms and Resistance: Even after the repeal of the Corn Laws, reforms to alcohol tariffs were minimal. The political resistance to free trade was strong, and the state continued to rely on protective measures for revenue.
• Effective Protection and Distortions: The concept of effective protection is critiqued as an incomplete measure. Tariffs on alcohol and other goods introduced broader distortions in both consumption and production, not just in protecting domestic industries.
• Late 19th Century Shift: The 1860 Anglo-French Treaty of Commerce marked a turning point, leading to lower British tariffs and aligning Britain more closely with the free trade narrative. However, this was not a unilateral move but rather a result of bilateral agreements.
• Hegemonic Stability Theory: The paper argues against the idea that Britain was the sole free trade leader, suggesting that European trade liberalization was driven by mutual agreements rather than unilateral actions.

Key Information

• Timeframe: 1689–1899
• Focus: British and French trade policies, particularly agricultural trade, alcohol tariffs, and the role of war in shaping these policies.
• Key Findings:
  • British tariffs on wine and spirits were among the most protective in Europe.
  • The repeal of the Corn Laws did not signal a move to free trade.
  • Protection of domestic industries (brewing, wine) allowed the state to raise excise taxes and increase revenues.
  • The 1860 Treaty of Commerce significantly reduced British tariffs and influenced European trade liberalization.
• Methodology: The paper uses historical data and economic models to analyze the effects of trade policies on state revenue, industry structure, and consumption patterns.

Conclusion

The paper presents a revisionist account of British economic policy, emphasizing the long-term protective nature of its trade regime and the role of political economy in shaping these policies. It highlights the importance of considering both production and consumption distortions in assessing trade policies and challenges the simplistic view of Britain as a free trader. The 1860 Treaty of Commerce is identified as a pivotal moment in the shift towards more liberal trade practices in Europe, but it was not a result of British unilateralism alone.

Figures and Tables

• Figure 1: Shows British tariffs remained higher than French throughout much of the 19th century.
• Figure 2: Illustrates the significant rise in British state income from customs and excises during the 18th century.
• Figure 3: Demonstrates that wine tariffs were significantly higher than beer excises until the 1860 Treaty.
• Table 1: Indicates that 40% of British taxes in the late 18th century were related to alcohol and brewing inputs.

Implications

• Economic History: Challenges the traditional economic and political science narratives about Britain's transition to free trade.
• Policy Analysis: Highlights the complexity of trade policy and the interplay between protection, revenue, and domestic industry interests.
• Global Trade: Suggests that the expansion of free trade in Europe was a result of bilateral negotiations rather than the unilateral actions of a single nation.