US

Tariffs on Chinese Electric Vehicles

Question A:

The proposed US tariffs on Chinese EVs would lead to measurably higher employment in the US automotive industry over the next five years.

Responses weighted by each expert's confidence

Question B:

The proposed US tariffs on Chinese EVs would lead to measurably higher prices of EVs in the US.

Responses weighted by each expert's confidence

Question C:

The proposed US tariffs on Chinese EVs would measurably slow the adoption of green technology by consumers.

Responses weighted by each expert's confidence

Question A Participant Responses

Participant University Vote Confidence Bio/Vote History
Acemoglu
Daron Acemoglu
MIT
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Aguiar
Mark Aguiar
Princeton
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Altonji
Joseph Altonji
Yale
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Auerbach
Alan Auerbach
Berkeley
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Autor
David Autor
MIT
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Although at a _very_ high cost per job, these tariffs will probably slow the erosion of US auto manufacturing employment (including among entrepot manufacturers). The US auto industry is not prepared to compete with BYD. That's not BYD's fault, but it is the reality.
Banerjee
Abhijit Banerjee
MIT
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Bergemann
Dirk Bergemann
Yale
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
The EVs produced in China are substitutes for the EVs produced in the US. By increasing the price of the imports, the domestic products become more competitive.
Bertrand
Marianne Bertrand
Chicago
Agree
2
Bio/Vote History
Brunnermeier
Markus Brunnermeier
Princeton
Uncertain
3
Bio/Vote History
Chevalier
Judith Chevalier
Yale
Uncertain
6
Bio/Vote History
Cutler
David Cutler
Harvard
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Duffie
Darrell Duffie
Stanford
Agree
2
Bio/Vote History
The tariffs would raise US EV prices, thus increase EV gross margins in the US, which are currently negative for all but Tesla. Higher margins would in turn increase optimal output, thus raise demand for labor input.
Edlin
Aaron Edlin
Berkeley
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Eichengreen
Barry Eichengreen
Berkeley
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Einav
Liran Einav
Stanford
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Fair
Ray Fair
Yale
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Glaeser
Edward Glaeser
Harvard
Disagree
5
Bio/Vote History
Goldberg
Pinelopi Goldberg
Yale
Uncertain
8
Bio/Vote History
It might, if the US EV industry takes off. This seems unlikely given the recent performance of EV sales in the US.
Greenstone
Michael Greenstone
University of Chicago
Uncertain
2
Bio/Vote History
Hart
Oliver Hart
Harvard
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Holmström
Bengt Holmström
MIT
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Hoxby
Caroline Hoxby
Stanford Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Hoynes
Hilary Hoynes
Berkeley
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
compared to the counterfactual of no tariffs (not current employment)
Hurst
Erik Hurst
Chicago Booth
Disagree
7
Bio/Vote History
If employment increases it will be so small that it will not be picked up in aggregate data.
Judd
Kenneth Judd
Stanford
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Kaplan
Steven Kaplan
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
3
Bio/Vote History
Kashyap
Anil Kashyap
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
3
Bio/Vote History
Klenow
Pete Klenow
Stanford
Disagree
3
Bio/Vote History
Levin
Jonathan Levin
Stanford
Uncertain
3
Bio/Vote History
Maskin
Eric Maskin
Harvard
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Nordhaus
William Nordhaus
Yale
Disagree
8
Bio/Vote History
Obstfeld
Maurice Obstfeld
Berkeley
Disagree
3
Bio/Vote History
Pathak
Parag Pathak
MIT
Uncertain
2
Bio/Vote History
Samuelson
Larry Samuelson
Yale
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Other forces pushing US auto industry employment downward will still operate, and the relative effect of Chinese EVs may be small.
Scheinkman
José Scheinkman
Columbia University
Uncertain
7
Bio/Vote History
In the short run, effect would be minimal because imports of Chinese EV are very small. On the middle run it would depend on whether Chinese EV producers establish facilities in countries with free trade agreements with US.
Schmalensee
Richard Schmalensee
MIT
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
More likely in gas-powered vehicles.
Scott Morton
Fiona Scott Morton
Yale
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Shapiro
Carl Shapiro
Berkeley
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Shimer
Robert Shimer
University of Chicago
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Stantcheva
Stefanie Stantcheva
Harvard
Uncertain
6
Bio/Vote History
Stock
James Stock
Harvard Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Stokey
Nancy Stokey
University of Chicago
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Syverson
Chad Syverson
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
US employment effect depends on many factors and margins of substitution; e.g., do Chinese manufacturers move production and to where, can U.S. producers ramp up EV and how does this cannibalize their ICE sales
Thaler
Richard Thaler
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Udry
Christopher Udry
Northwestern
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Werning
Ivan Werning
MIT Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History

Question B Participant Responses

Participant University Vote Confidence Bio/Vote History
Acemoglu
Daron Acemoglu
MIT
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Aguiar
Mark Aguiar
Princeton
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Altonji
Joseph Altonji
Yale
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Auerbach
Alan Auerbach
Berkeley
Strongly Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Autor
David Autor
MIT
Strongly Agree
10
Bio/Vote History
How could it not?
Banerjee
Abhijit Banerjee
MIT
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Bergemann
Dirk Bergemann
Yale
Strongly Disagree
9
Bio/Vote History
The market for EVs is very competitive already, thus a restriction for a subset of supplier will not affect the overall market price
Bertrand
Marianne Bertrand
Chicago
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Brunnermeier
Markus Brunnermeier
Princeton
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Chevalier
Judith Chevalier
Yale
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Cutler
David Cutler
Harvard
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Duffie
Darrell Duffie
Stanford
Strongly Agree
2
Bio/Vote History
Edlin
Aaron Edlin
Berkeley
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Eichengreen
Barry Eichengreen
Berkeley
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Einav
Liran Einav
Stanford
Agree
1
Bio/Vote History
Fair
Ray Fair
Yale
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Glaeser
Edward Glaeser
Harvard
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Goldberg
Pinelopi Goldberg
Yale
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Currently, there are no Chinese EV imports in the US, so the tariffs are preemptive. They will raise EV prices relative to the counterfactual without tariffs, where affordable Chinese EVs would be imported in the US market.
Greenstone
Michael Greenstone
University of Chicago
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Hart
Oliver Hart
Harvard
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Holmström
Bengt Holmström
MIT
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Hoxby
Caroline Hoxby
Stanford Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Hoynes
Hilary Hoynes
Berkeley
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
compared to the counterfactual of no tariffs
Hurst
Erik Hurst
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
The shifting patterns of production across countries will likely limit the decline in the actual supply of EV to US customers. China is already talking about moving some production to mexico to get around the tariff.
Judd
Kenneth Judd
Stanford
Strongly Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
Without Chinese competition, the higher-cost American firms can charge higher prices.
Kaplan
Steven Kaplan
Chicago Booth
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Kashyap
Anil Kashyap
Chicago Booth
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Klenow
Pete Klenow
Stanford
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Levin
Jonathan Levin
Stanford
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Maskin
Eric Maskin
Harvard
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Nordhaus
William Nordhaus
Yale
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Obstfeld
Maurice Obstfeld
Berkeley
Uncertain
3
Bio/Vote History
Pathak
Parag Pathak
MIT
Agree
1
Bio/Vote History
Samuelson
Larry Samuelson
Yale
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
We can expect the cost of the tariffs to be borne by US consumers.
Scheinkman
José Scheinkman
Columbia University
Uncertain
6
Bio/Vote History
Currently, there are very few Chines EV imports. Effect on prices in the next few years would depend whether Chinese EV manufacturers establish facilities in countries with free-trade agreements with the US.
Schmalensee
Richard Schmalensee
MIT
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
What else could it do?
Scott Morton
Fiona Scott Morton
Yale
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Shapiro
Carl Shapiro
Berkeley
Strongly Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
Shimer
Robert Shimer
University of Chicago
Strongly Agree
10
Bio/Vote History
Stantcheva
Stefanie Stantcheva
Harvard
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Stock
James Stock
Harvard Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Stokey
Nancy Stokey
University of Chicago
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Syverson
Chad Syverson
Chicago Booth
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Thaler
Richard Thaler
Chicago Booth
Disagree
1
Bio/Vote History
Udry
Christopher Udry
Northwestern
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Werning
Ivan Werning
MIT Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History

Question C Participant Responses

Participant University Vote Confidence Bio/Vote History
Acemoglu
Daron Acemoglu
MIT
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Aguiar
Mark Aguiar
Princeton
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Altonji
Joseph Altonji
Yale
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Auerbach
Alan Auerbach
Berkeley
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Autor
David Autor
MIT
Strongly Agree
10
Bio/Vote History
Have you seen those Chinese EV prices?
Banerjee
Abhijit Banerjee
MIT
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Bergemann
Dirk Bergemann
Yale
Strongly Disagree
9
Bio/Vote History
Bertrand
Marianne Bertrand
Chicago
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Brunnermeier
Markus Brunnermeier
Princeton
Agree
2
Bio/Vote History
Chevalier
Judith Chevalier
Yale
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Cutler
David Cutler
Harvard
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Duffie
Darrell Duffie
Stanford
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Edlin
Aaron Edlin
Berkeley
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Eichengreen
Barry Eichengreen
Berkeley
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Einav
Liran Einav
Stanford
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Fair
Ray Fair
Yale
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Glaeser
Edward Glaeser
Harvard
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Goldberg
Pinelopi Goldberg
Yale
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
EV sales have been low in the US. Keeping affordable options out of the market through protection will only slow down their adoption. In the best case, US firms will catch up with a delay.
Greenstone
Michael Greenstone
University of Chicago
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Hart
Oliver Hart
Harvard
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Holmström
Bengt Holmström
MIT
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Hoxby
Caroline Hoxby
Stanford Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Hoynes
Hilary Hoynes
Berkeley
Disagree
8
Bio/Vote History
Hurst
Erik Hurst
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
If prices increase meaningfully, this could slow adoption. However, I am not sure that prices will increase in a meaningful way if production from China gets reallocated to other countries.
Judd
Kenneth Judd
Stanford
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Kaplan
Steven Kaplan
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
3
Bio/Vote History
Kashyap
Anil Kashyap
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
depends in part by how many steps the government mandates.
Klenow
Pete Klenow
Stanford
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Levin
Jonathan Levin
Stanford
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Maskin
Eric Maskin
Harvard
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Nordhaus
William Nordhaus
Yale
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Obstfeld
Maurice Obstfeld
Berkeley
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Pathak
Parag Pathak
MIT
Agree
1
Bio/Vote History
Samuelson
Larry Samuelson
Yale
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Raising the prices of green technologies is not an effective way to encourage their use.
Scheinkman
José Scheinkman
Columbia University
Uncertain
7
Bio/Vote History
Adoption by consumers will very much depend on establishing good infrastructure for recharging. The effect of the tariff on adoption would depend on whether Chinese EV manufacturers establish facilities in countries with free-trade agreements with US (Mexico, South Korea...)
Schmalensee
Richard Schmalensee
MIT
Strongly Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
I take “green technologies” to mean EVs. No reason to expect impacts on other technologies.
Scott Morton
Fiona Scott Morton
Yale
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Other policies may respond such as state and federal subsidies, development of a green ecosystem in the US that creates externalities in other industries, etc.
Shapiro
Carl Shapiro
Berkeley
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Shimer
Robert Shimer
University of Chicago
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Stantcheva
Stefanie Stantcheva
Harvard
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Stock
James Stock
Harvard Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Stokey
Nancy Stokey
University of Chicago
Disagree
3
Bio/Vote History
Syverson
Chad Syverson
Chicago Booth
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Thaler
Richard Thaler
Chicago Booth
Disagree
1
Bio/Vote History
It is hard to guess what the counterfactual is. Do the Chinese export a lot of EVs at a 25% tariff? Dunno.
Udry
Christopher Udry
Northwestern
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Werning
Ivan Werning
MIT Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History