|
on Industrial Organization |
|
Issue of 2009‒08‒02
four papers chosen by |
| By: | Laura Magazzini; Fabio Pammolli; Massimo Riccaboni; Maria Alessandra Rossi |
| Abstract: | The prominent role played by patents within the pharmaceutical domain is unquestionable. In this paper we take an unusual perspective and focus on a relatively neglected implication of patents: the effect of patent-induced information disclosure (of both successes and failures) on the dynamics of R&D and market competition. The study builds upon the combination of two large datasets, linking the information about patents to firm level data on R&D projects and their outcome. Two case studies in the fields of anti-inflammatory compounds and cancer research complement our analysis. We show the important role played by patent disclosure in shaping firms technological trajectories through the possibility of reciprocal monitoring in a context of parallel research efforts, and suggest the importance of enhancing the diffusion of information concerning failures, not only to avoid wasteful duplication of innovative efforts, but also as a tool for the identification of promising research trajectories. This paper is the result of the "R&D competition" research project carried out jointly with Adrian Towse and Martina Garau of the Office of Health Economics, London, UK. A preliminary draft of the paper has been presented to the DRUID Summer Conference 2006 (Copenhagen), and to the 11th ISS Conference (Sophia-Antipolis). |
| JEL: | D23 D83 O34 |
| Date: | 2009–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:trt:rockwp:053&r=ind |
| By: | Enrico Sorisio (Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture, University of Oslo) |
| Abstract: | The main aim of this paper is to study innovative activity, as measured by patent indicators, in pharmaceutical and biotechnological sectors in the Nordic Countries. The biotech sector in general and pharmaceutical in particular is one of the areas selected for strategic investments in every Nordic country. In terms of patents granted by country of inventors Denmark plays a leading role followed by Sweden, while patenting activity in Finland and Norway is lower. A concentration of patents towards a relative small number of assignees (mainly large biotech and pharmaceutical companies based in Denmark and Sweden) is also observed. Norwegian patents, as measured by patent citations indices, are more “important” than those of the other countries, as well as in terms of relative size of innovations. Although there are other contributing factors, our data suggest that geographical proximity to large pharmaceutical companies plays a role in determining the relative success of national policies, and also that new investment policies in countries where large biotech or pharmaceutical companies are not established can yield positive returns in terms of innovation growth. |
| Keywords: | Patent data, Innovation, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical industry, Patent citations, Nordic Countries |
| JEL: | O31 O34 L65 C20 |
| Date: | 2009–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tik:inowpp:20090722&r=ind |
| By: | Yasuhiro Otsuka |
| Abstract: | Although, the number of OECD countries that publish data on the number of mobile broadband subscribers is not large, growth is significant in markets where data are available. This paper provides an overview of prices, speeds and data caps of mobile broadband services. 99 and 58 operators in OECD countries are providing USB modem based and handset based services respectively with WCDMA/ CDMA-2000 technologies, while 4 are providing mobile broadband access with WiMAX technologies. The data show that there is a wide range of subscriptions available but with considerable variation between and within countries. Differences are most pronounced in countries where mobile broadband is in its infancy. The number of new mobile terminals and USB modems on the market is stimulating much wider use of mobile broadband by consumers. Prices, as well as caps, need to be adjusted for the consumer market which is more price-sensitive. |
| Date: | 2009–06–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:stiaab:161-en&r=ind |
| By: | Giuseppe De Feo (Department of Economics, University of Strathclyde); Carlo Capuano (Department of Economics, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte S.Angelo) |
| Abstract: | The aim of this paper is to investigate the welfare eect of a change in the public firms objective function in oligopoly when the government takes into account the distortionary effect of rising funds by taxation (shadow cost of public funds). We analyze the impact of a shift from welfare- to proft-maximizing behaviour of the public firm on the timing of competition by endogenizing the determination of simultaneous (Nash-Cournot) versus sequential (Stackelberg) games using the game with observable delay proposed by Hamilton and Slutsky (1990). Differently from previous work that assumed the timing of competition, we show that, absent efficiency gains, instructing the public firm to play as a private one never increases welfare. Moreover, even when large eciency gains result from the shift in public firm's objective, an inecient public rm that maximizes welfare may be preferred. |
| Keywords: | Mixed oligopoly; Nash equilibria; Endogenous Timing; Distortionary taxes |
| JEL: | L1 L13 L32 L33 |
| Date: | 2009–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:str:wpaper:0916&r=ind |