On the static and dynamic costs of trade restrictions

We analyze the costs of trade restrictions for a small developing economy. Capital goods are only introduced on the market if it is profitable to do so. The economy evolves to a balanced growth path in which income, welfare, and the share of introduced capital goods increase if trade restrictions fall. The adjustment path is asymmetric: an increase in trade restrictions will slow-down economic growth, while a decrease may give rise to a rapid catch-up process. The static costs of trade restrictions are smaller than the dynamic costs if, and only if, it changes the share of introduced capital goods.