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Privatization of Knowledge: Did the U.S. Get It Right? (New Version)

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  • Cozzi, Guido
  • Galli, Silvia

Abstract

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 that were 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Cozzi, Guido & Galli, Silvia, 2011. "Privatization of Knowledge: Did the U.S. Get It Right? (New Version)," MPRA Paper 29710, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:29710
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    File URL: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/29710/1/MPRA_paper_29710.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wei-Bin Zhang, 2018. "Growth, Research, and Free Trade with Knowledge as Global Public Capital," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 3, pages 37-66.
    2. Gersbach, Hans & Schneider, Maik T., 2015. "On the global supply of basic research," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 123-137.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    R&D and Growth; Sequential Innovation; Basic Research; Patent Laws.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models
    • O34 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives

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