Tariffs and Economic Development in the USA: New Evidence from a New Dataset of US Product-Level Tariffs, 1789 - Present

Part 1
The main objective of this project is to compile a new open-access database of US tariffs since 1789 for every product covered by US tariff laws. The database will be easily accessible and searchable using any text editor or a spreadsheet application. Users will be able to track the level of tariff protection for the economy and by product or industry since 1789. Having a comprehensive open-access repository of tariff rates will allow US consumers, producers and policy makers to better understand how government policy has evolved over time. Data will also help users evaluate the economic impact of tariffs on consumers and producers. Since current policies are a function of past policies and experience, this database will be an important input for anyone thinking about the future of American trade policy as well.

Part 2
Our database provides a user-friendly text based database of all US import tariffs since 1789. Users will be able to find the statutory tariff rate for each tariff line since 1789 but will also be able to track tariff rates over time by SITC (revision 2) code as well. PIs and collaborators will use these data to provide original insights and research into the political and bureaucratic determinants of tariff rates in the Early US republic (1789 – 1861). In addition, research will look at the incidence of tariff rates by studying the progressivity and regressivity of tariff rates. PIs and collaborates will also explore the connection between industry level productivity growth, structural changes and tariff policy using novel identification strategies to reveal causal impacts of tariff policy on these important outcomes. Our research will inform not only academic interpretations of US trade policy but also help policy makers to better understand the aggregate and distributional impacts of American trade policy.