Roundtable to Address Economics of IP

Geneva, March 23, 2010
MA/2010/53

WIPO is to launch the first in a series of seminars on “The Economics of Intellectual Property” on March 26, 2010. The event will feature leading economists from around the world and is designed to stimulate and inform international debate on the linkages between intellectual property (IP) protection and economic development.

Five eminent economists will address issues relating to IP, innovation and economic development, the challenges facing IP institutions in developing countries and will consider different methodological approaches in analyzing the economic impacts of IP. Speakers include Mr. Keith Maskus, Associate Dean for Social Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Professor, Department of Economics, University of Colorado, Ms. Brownyn Hall, Professor, Department of Economics, University of California, Berkeley, Mr. Keun Lee, Professor, Economics Department, Seoul National University, Mr. José Tavera Colugna, Associate Professor, Economics Department, Pontifica Universidad Catolica del Perú, and Mr. Francois P. Kabore, American University, Washington D.C.

The roundtable, which will be chaired by WIPO’s Chief Economist, Mr. Carsten Fink, will begin at 3 p.m. and is open to the public. Please send an email if you are interested in attending (space constraints may apply).

The roundtable will be preceded by a focused and technical discussion among experts on March 25, 2010, organized by WIPO in cooperation with the World Bank. The Meeting on Intellectual Property and Economic Development will bring together leading economists in the field from around the world to define a research agenda on IP and economic development. The specific objectives of the meeting are to identify key questions for applied economic research in line with the needs of policymakers; and to develop recommendations for data collection and methodological approaches in conducting economic research for improved policy advice.

Under the WIPO Development Agenda, the Organization is mandated to undertake studies on the linkages between IP protection and economic development. WIPO is partnering with the World Bank in organizing this event in light of the World Bank’s recently expanded focus of its policy research agenda to include technological innovation and its implications for catch-up and broadly shared growth in developing countries in a globalized world. 

Introduction
Mr. Carsten Fink, Chief Economist, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Geneva, Switzerland.

Intellectual Property (IP) in the Global Economy
Mr. Keith Maskus, Associate Dean for Social Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Professor, Department of Economics, University of Colorado, Boulder, United States of America.

What Economists Know, What They Do Not Know, and What They Would Like to Know
Ms. Brownyn Hall, Professor, Department of Economics, University of California, Berkeley, United States of America.

Intellectual Property, Innovation and Economic Development
Mr. Keun Lee, Professor, Economics Department, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea.

Intellectual Property and Inclusive Innovation
Mr. Francois P. Kabore, American University, Washington D.C., United States of America.