Innovation, Imitation and Competition

Zhou Wen ()
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Zhou Wen: University of Hong Kong

The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, 2009, vol. 9, issue 1, 16

Abstract: In a general equilibrium framework, it is known that imitation may actually promote innovation (Aghion et al., 1997). The same effect is demonstrated with a standard oligopoly model in which one firm has the ability to develop technologies while all other firms imitate and obtain a fraction of it for free. Competition is shown to dampen innovation, while imitation may stimulate it if imitation is strong and competition moderate. The findings have implications for policy toward intellectual property rights protection, as weak protection may promote rather than impede technology innovation.

Keywords: innovation; imitation; competition; intellectual property protection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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DOI: 10.2202/1935-1682.2256

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