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Spillovers, licensing and welfare

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  • Shuai Niu

    (Shandong University)

Abstract

In this paper, we talk about the optimal public policy towards technology transfer between competitors of different productivity. Two technology diffusion methods will be introduced, knowledge spillovers and licensing. In the previous studies, the discussions on these two methods are usually conducted in isolation and the links between them are rarely of concern to researchers. However, in reality knowledge spillovers and licensing coexist with each other and there are important interactions between them. Aware of this in mind, we contribute to the literature by including both knowledge spillovers and the possibility of licensing in an asymmetric duopoly model, analyzing the interactions between them and incorporating this aspect into the policy making process. The new derived policy in this paper is a significant improvement of the traditional one developed in the past literature. Roughly speaking, switching from the traditional policy to the new one can raise the expected social welfare by 2.1 percents.

Suggested Citation

  • Shuai Niu, 2025. "Spillovers, licensing and welfare," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 144(1), pages 85-102, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jeczfn:v:144:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s00712-024-00887-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s00712-024-00887-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    spillovers; licensing; R& D; welfare; policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • L24 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Contracting Out; Joint Ventures
    • L40 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies - - - General
    • L50 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - General

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