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Yang-Ming Chang and Kyle Ross |
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''Biodiversity, intellectual property rights and north-south trade'' |
( 2009, Vol. 29 No.2 ) |
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In this paper, we examine how biodiversity levels are affected by different regimes of trade-related intellectual property rights (IPRs) in a two-way trade framework where the North and South import and export to each other`s market. This approach incorporates domestic consumption (and hence consumer surplus) into the welfare maximization problem of the Southern government in a three-stage game under alternative IPR regimes. We find that for achieving a maximal level of biodiversity and socially optimal welfare in the South, the Southern government should protect farmers` rights. Further, we find that the Southern government has economic incentives to acknowledge international patents and protect biodiversity even in the absence of farmers''s rights. |
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Keywords: |
JEL: F2 - International Factor Movements and International Business: General Q2 - Renewable Resources and Conservation: General |
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Manuscript Received : Nov 24 2008 | | Manuscript Accepted : May 16 2009 |
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