Privatization of Knowledge: Did the U.S. Get It Right?
Series
Economics Working Paper Series
Type
working paper
Date Issued
2013
Author(s)
Abstract (De)
To foster innovation and growth should basic research be publicly or privately funded? This paper studies the impact of the gradual shift in the U.S. patent system towards the patentability and commercialization of the basic R&D undertaken by universities. We see this movement as making universities becoming responsive to "market" forces. Prior to 1980, universities undertook research using an exogenous stock of researchers motivated by "curiosity." After 1980, universities patent their research and behave as private firms. This move, in a context of two-stage inventions (basic and applied research) has an a priori ambiguous effect on innovation and welfare. We build a Schumpeterian model and match it to the data to assess this important turning point.
Language
German
Keywords
R&D and Growth
Sequential Innovation
Basic Research
Patent Laws
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
HSG Profile Area
SEPS - Economic Policy
Refereed
No
Publisher
SEPS, University of St. Gallen
Number
1307
Subject(s)
Eprints ID
222154
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Name
EWP-1307.pdf
Size
569.21 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
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