Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/67811 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2011
Series/Report no.: 
Queen's Economics Department Working Paper No. 1282
Publisher: 
Queen's University, Department of Economics, Kingston (Ontario)
Abstract: 
The intent of the patent system is to encourage innovation by granting the innovator exclusive rights to a discovery for a limited period of time: with monopoly power, the innovator can recover the costs of creating the innovation which otherwise might not have existed. And, over time, the resulting innovation makes everyone better off. This presumption of improved social welfare is considered here. The paper examines the impact of patents on welfare in an environment where there are large numbers of (small) innovators. With patents, because there is monopoly for a limited time the outcome is necessarily not socially optimal, although social welfare may be higher than in the no-patent state. Patent acquisition and ownership creates two opposing incentives at the same time: the incentive to acquiremonopoly rights conferred by the patent spurs innovation, but subsequent ownership of those rights inhibits innovation (both own innovation and that of others). On balance, which effect will dominate? In the framework of this paper separate circumstances are identified under which patents are either beneficial or detrimental to innovation and welfare; and comparisons are drawn with the socially optimal level of investment in innovation.
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
250.93 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.