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Effects of Patent Policy on Income and Consumption Inequality in a R&D Growth Model

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  • Angus C. Chu

Abstract

To analyze the effects of patent policy on growth and inequality, this article develops a quality‐ladder model with wealth heterogeneity and elastic labor supply. The model predicts that strengthening patent protection increases (a) economic growth by stimulating spending on research and development and (b) income inequality by raising the return on assets. Elastic labor supply creates an additional effect on income inequality. As for consumption inequality, the effect is ambiguous and depends on the elasticity of intertemporal substitution. Calibrating the model to the U.S. data shows that strengthening patent protection increases income inequality by more than consumption inequality, and this pattern is consistent with the data.

Suggested Citation

  • Angus C. Chu, 2010. "Effects of Patent Policy on Income and Consumption Inequality in a R&D Growth Model," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 77(2), pages 336-350, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:soecon:v:77:y:2010:i:2:p:336-350
    DOI: 10.4284/sej.2010.77.2.336
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    Cited by:

    1. Lu, You-Xun, 2022. "Interactive effects of monetary policy and patent protection: The role of endogenous innovation size," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    2. Wang, Di & Wang, Xilin, 2025. "Unions, Growth and Inequality in a Schumpeterian Economy," MPRA Paper 123942, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Hu, Ruiyang & Yang, Yibai & Zheng, Zhijie, 2023. "Patent protection and income inequality in a model with two growth engines," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    4. Heng‐Chuan Kao & Hsiao‐Wen Hung, 2024. "Patent protection, externalities, and income inequality," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 92(5), pages 466-493, September.
    5. Afonso, Óscar & Lima, Pedro G., 2024. "The struggle between capitalists and workers concerning patent and monetary policies in a Schumpeterian economy," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 48(3).
    6. Posso, Alberto & Zhang, Quanda, 2023. "Social R&D: Does academic freedom contribute to improved societal outcomes?," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    7. Uche, Emmanuel & Ngepah, Nicholas & Onwe, Joshua Chukwuma & Zaman, Umer & Odhiambo, Nicholas M., 2024. "A question for sustainable development goal 10: How relevant is innovation patenting receipts to income distributions?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    8. Chu, Angus C. & Liao, Chih-Hsing, 2025. "Optimal patent policy and wealth inequality in a Schumpeterian economy," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    9. Asteriou, Dimitrios & Dimelis, Sophia & Moudatsou, Argiro, 2014. "Globalization and income inequality: A panel data econometric approach for the EU27 countries," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 592-599.
    10. Angus C. Chu, 2022. "Patent policy and economic growth: A survey," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 90(2), pages 237-254, March.
    11. Ken Tabata, 2024. "Taxation of a Non-renewable Resource and Inequality in an R&D-based Growth Model," Discussion Paper Series 272, School of Economics, Kwansei Gakuin University.
    12. Zheng, Zhijie & Wan, Xi & Huang, Chien-Yu, 2023. "Inflation and income inequality in a Schumpeterian economy with heterogeneous wealth and skills," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    13. Chan, Ying Tung & Yang, Yibai & Zheng, Zhijie, 2022. "Effects of R&D policy on income inequality in a growth model with heterogeneous assets and skills," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    14. Angus C. Chu, 2009. "Macroeconomic Effects of Intellectual Property Rights: A Survey," IEAS Working Paper : academic research 09-A007, Institute of Economics, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
    15. Kais Mtar & Walid Belazreg, 2023. "On the nexus of innovation, trade openness, financial development and economic growth in European countries: New perspective from a GMM panel VAR approach," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(1), pages 766-791, January.
    16. Obrimah, Oghenovo A., 2024. "Measuring Innovativeness: A ranking of the ordinal utility from consumption is more robust than either of ‘outcomes of commercialization’ or patent counts," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 603-616.
    17. Hu, Ruiyang & Wang, Jian & Yang, Yibai & Zheng, Zhijie, 2024. "Inflation and income inequality in an open-economy growth model with liquidity constraints on R&D," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    18. Chu, Angus C. & Peng, Shin-Kun, 2011. "International intellectual property rights: Effects on growth, welfare and income inequality," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 276-287, June.
    19. Yoshihiro Hamaguchi, 2025. "Agglomeration, inequality, and the environment in an R&D-based growth model," Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 1-17, December.
    20. Chu, Angus C. & Liao, Chih-Hsing & Peretto, Pietro, 2024. "Dynamic effects of taxation in an unequal Schumpeterian economy," MPRA Paper 122219, University Library of Munich, Germany.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models
    • O34 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital

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