IER Lawrence Klein Lecture: the case against intellectual monopoly

Michele Boldrin and David Levine

No 339, Staff Report from Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

Abstract: In the modern theory of growth, monopoly plays a crucial role both as a cause and an effect of innovation. Innovative firms, it is argued, would have insufficient incentive to innovate should the prospect of monopoly power not be present. This theme of monopoly runs throughout the theory of growth, international trade, and industrial organization. We argue that monopoly is neither needed for, nor a necessary consequence of, innovation. In particular, intellectual property is not necessary for, and may hurt more than help, innovation and growth. We argue that, as a practical matter, it is more likely to hurt.

Keywords: Monopolies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2004
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-com and nep-reg
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (38)

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Working Paper: IER Lawrence Klein Lecture: The Case Against Intellectual Monopoly (2003)
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