Citation Analysis of Publications on the Australian Tariff Debate

Abstract

Australia went from a highly protected trade regime (in the late 1960s-early 1970s) to a somewhat lower one (in the early 1990s). At the time of the Victorian Willis by-election in April, 1992, the Australian news media claimed that the tariff debate was already won by 'free-traders' and, that the two major political parties were committed to tariff reducing policies. They would 'ultimately levy' an effective rate from zero to 5%. Who were the economists taking part in the debate and what were their contributions? This paper employs citation analysis as a tool to explore and follow the development of the tariff debate during the post-war period. It distinguishes the main participants in the debate and their contributions.