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The Limits of intellectual property rights: Lessons from the spread of illegal transgenic seeds in India

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Author Info
N. Lalitha () (Gujarat Institute of Development Research, Ahmedabad)
Carl E. Pray () (The State University of New Jersey)
Bharat Ramaswami () (Indian Statistical Institute, New Delhi)

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Abstract

Genetically modified seeds have to be approved by biosafety regulators before they can be commercialized. Illegal seeds are, however, common in many developing countries including Brazil, China and India. They potentially pose dangers to biosafety and also undermine the intellectual property rights of firms that own the genetically modifed traits. Their unchecked spread has been attributed to the near impossibility of enforcement when potential violators involve millions of small farmers. Based on a survey of cotton growers in Gujarat, India in 2004, and an examination of the structure of cotton seed production this paper finds that the government, in fact, possesed the information and means to enforce the law. A contingent valuation exercise reveals high relative valuations for illegal seeds correlated with the perceived costs of pesticide application. We discuss how that matters to the political cost of enforcement and to socially optimal policies

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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Indian Statistical Institute, New Delhi, India in its series Indian Statistical Institute, Planning Unit, New Delhi Discussion Papers with number 08-06.

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Length: 39 pages
Date of creation: Mar 2008
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Handle: RePEc:ind:isipdp:08-06

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Related research
Keywords: Intellectual Property Rights; Biosafety Regulation; Genetically Modified Seeds; Transgenic Varieties; Bt Cotton;

Find related papers by JEL classification:
K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
O34 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Technological Change - - - Intellectual Property Rights
Q16 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - R&D; Agricultural Technology; Agricultural Extension Services

References listed on IDEAS
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  1. Devparna Roy & Ronald Herring & Charles Geisler, 2007. "Naturalising transgenics: Official seeds, loose seeds and risk in the decision matrix of Gujarati cotton farmers," The Journal of Development Studies, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 43(1), pages 158-176. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Jeemol Unni, 2009. "Are Gender Differentials in Educational Capabilities Mediated through Institutions of Caste and Religion in India?," Working Papers id:2227, esocialsciences.com. [Downloadable!]
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