Optimum Tariffs and Patent Length in a Model of North-South Technology Transfer

Sharmila Vishwasrao, Srabana Gupta and Hassan Benchekroun

Cahiers de recherche from Centre interuniversitaire de recherche en économie quantitative, CIREQ

Abstract: This paper constructs a theoretical model of trade and technology transfer to study a developing country’s choice of optimum tariffs and patent length. A Northern firm has a new good, which it must export to or produce in a Southern country. The Southern government simultaneously chooses an import tariff and patent length to maximize its welfare and induce foreign direct investment (FDI). The absence of patent protection requires high tariffs to induce FDI. This reduces welfare when the good is imported. A combination of patent length and tariffs can be used to reduce this loss and induce FDI. Thus Southern countries may have an incentive to protect patents, although never to the same extent as Northern countries.

Keywords: trade policy; intellectual property rights; foreign direct investment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F13 F23 O34 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 28 pages
Date: 2004
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Optimum tariffs and patent length in a model of North-South technology transfer (2007)
Working Paper: Optimum tariffs and patent length in a model of North–South technology transfer (2005)
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