Knowledge diffusion vs. technological progress: the optimal strength of IPRs protection

Shuai Niu ()
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Shuai Niu: School of Economics, Australian School of Business, The University of New South Wales

Economics Bulletin, 2011, vol. 31, issue 4, 2839-2846

Abstract: By adjusting the strength of IPRs protection, the government can change the extent of knowledge spillovers in R&D. A large spillover rate helps to improve the productivity of the less efficient firms and save on the overall production costs. But, at the same time, it reduces the innovator's incentives to conduct R&D and results in a lower equilibrium innovation level. So, there is an inherent tension between knowledge diffusion and technological progress. In this paper, we formalized this relationship in a two stage asymmetric duopoly model and discussed the optimal IPRs protection policy. The main conclusion is that, to maximize social welfare the strength of IPRs protection should rise as the increase of the innovating firm's R&D efficiency.

Keywords: spillovers; knowledge diffusion; technological progress; IPRs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L0 L1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011-10-10
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