Relationship between Tariff Barriers and Economic Growth in Peru

Judith Santos Burgos G.; Rafael Rodríguez Abraham A. · Proceedings of the LACCEI international Multi-conference for Engineering, Education and Technology (2026) · DOI: 10.18687/laccei2026.1.1.2002

Resumen

This study examines the relationship between tariff barriers and Peru's economic growth over the period 1960-2023. Using a quantitative, applied, and longitudinal approach, 64 annual observations based on official data sources were analysed. The results indicate a negative and statistically significant correlation (rho = -0.787; p < 0.05) between tariff levels and real GDP, suggesting that periods characterised by higher levels of trade protection tended to coincide with weaker economic performance. While tariff measures may serve a defensive role in the short run, their persistent application has been associated in the literature with distortions that may undermine competitiveness and aggregate productivity. In this context, the study suggests that a trade policy guided by empirical evidence, and grounded in a balance between external openness and internal development, may constitute a relevant element for sustaining more stable trajectories of economic growth.

Instituciones: Universidad César Vallejo