智慧財產權之總體經濟效果－－文獻回顧

Macroeconomic Effects of Intellectual Property Rights A Survey

本文探討智慧財產權(IPR)的總體效果（包括R＆D，經濟成長，扭曲與所得分配，以及其在開放經濟體系下的影響）之理論與實證研究。大致上可得到幾個主要的結論：理論研究發現，不同的IPR設定對於R＆D與經濟成長會有不同的效果，然而實證結果顯示，IPR的施行對於R＆D會有正向的效果。此外，IPR會使廠商採取較高的markup而造成扭曲，且使社會上的所得分配更不平均。更進一步，若考慮國内的R＆D對於國外的外溢效果，則Nash Equilibrium之下IPR的水準會低於最適水準，因此，國際間再IPR施行上之整合可提高整體的福利。

This paper provides a survey of studies that analyze the macroeconomic effects of intellectual property rights (IPR). The first part of this paper introduces different patentpolicy instruments and reviews their effects on R&D and economic growth. This part also discusses the distortionary effects and distributional consequences of IPR protection as well as empirical evidence on the effects of patent rights. The second part of this paper considers the international aspects of IPR protection. In summary, this survey draws the following conclusions from the literature. Firstly, different patent-policy instruments have different effects on R&D and growth. Secondly, there is empirical evidence supporting a positive relationship between IPR protection and innovation, but the evidence is stronger for developed countries than for developing countries. Thirdly, the optimal level of IPR protection should tradeoff the social benefits of enhanced innovation against the social costs of multiple distortions and income inequality. Finally, in an open economy, achieving the globally optimal level of protection requires an international coordination (rather than the harmonization) of IPR protection.