This paper rehabilitates effective protection for use in political eco
nomy. In general equilibrium, the usual definition corresponds to no e
conomically interesting magnitude. The effective rate of protection fo
r sector j is redefined here as the uniform tariff which is equivalent
to the actual differentiated tariff structure in its effect on rents
to residual claimants in sector j. It permits political economic ranki
ng of 'how much protection' is given across sectors, since higher unif
orm tariffs imply higher losses of welfare sacrificed to the interest
groups, Demonstrating operationality, the numerical results for the US
economy for the old and new concepts are not significantly correlated
. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.