Tues., Thurs., 2305 Tolman Hall                                                                                                                            Brian Wright                                                                                                                                                                                330 Giannini, 642-9213

wright@are.berkeley.edu

 

 

EnvEcon 143

Economics of Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation

 

Information, Research and Innovation are key drivers of growth and prosperity in the modern economy. Policy makers and entrepreneurs need to understand the economics of research and the various means of fostering sustained innovation in a world of proliferating intellectual property rights. This course addresses these issues.

 

We start with the history of research and innovation and the institutions that have supported it since ancient times.  We then consider the standard modern economics of invention, introduced by Arrow, Nelson and others; the major types of research management systems; the nature and economic effects of the various modern intellectual property rights; major innovation achievements including examples from agriculture, pharmaceuticals, software, and electronics.  We discuss the determinants of the direction of innovation, the roles of the public and private sectors, open source innovation, the interaction between innovation and market structure, the role of antitrust, the access of the poor to needed technology, and the challenges of ongoing global intellectual property negotiations.

 

Click here for READING LIST

 

Potential QUIZ QUESTIONS.

MORE POTENTIAL QUIZ QUESTIONS. (a few clarifications/corrections added)

 

Quiz 1 answer key

 

Quiz 2 Extended list of potential questions*

 

FINAL: List of study questions in addition to quiz lists.

 

 

NEWS ITEMS

 

Midterm Grade Report

 

LECTURES (* denotes revised or augmented version of handout)

Lecture2

Lecture3

Lecture 4

Lectures 5 and 6*

Lecture 7*

Lectures 8 and 9*

Lecture 10

EBI Lecture 071005 (Lecture 11 elaborated)

Burnside EBI info

Lecture 12 and 13*

Lectures 14 and 15*

Lecture 16

Lecture 17

Lecture 18

Lecture 19

Lecture 20

Lecture 21

Lecture 22

Lecture 23

Lecture 24

Lecture 25

 

 

References will be available at http://are.berkeley.edu/courses/EEP143/fall2007.

 

The main text is Suzanne Scotchmer, Innovation and Incentives, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2004, available for $22.00 at UC Berkeley Bookstore  , and on reserve at Moffitt Library HC79.R4.S26 2004, where a few other hard copy references (including Mokyr's book and Burke's book) are on reserve also.

 

There will be two  midterm exams (20%) and a final exam (50%). Class participation is 10%.

Final Exam: Exam Group 17, Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12.30-3.30 PM (closed book exam)

 

Office hours 330 Giannini Hall: First week Monday 12.00-2.00. Following weeks Friday 10.30-12.00.

It helps to call 642-9213 to make an appointment, or to email me at wright@are.berkeley.edu.

 

In each class, all students will be expected to take an active role in class discussions, and in critically examining the contributions of others. Class participation is crucial for all students. Do not be shy; I have never heard a stupid question from a student yet!

Useful links:

The Economist Science and Technology news.

National Science Foundation: Science and Engineering Indicators