Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2003
Abstract
The New Economy is closely associated with computing & communications technology, notably the Internet. We discuss property rights to, and trade in, the difficult-to-define intangible assets increasingly dominating the New Economy, and the possibility of under-investment in these assets. For a realistic analysis we introduce a Schumpeterian market environment (the experimentally organized economy). Weak property rights prevail when the rights to access, use, andtrade in intangible assets cannot be fully exercised. The trade-off between the benefits of open access on the Internet, and the incentive effects of strengthened property rights, depend both on the particular strategy a firm employs to secure property rights, and the protection offered by law. Economic property rights can be strengthened if the originator can find innovative ways to charge for the intangible assets. The extreme complexity of the New Economy and the large number of possible innovative private contract arrangements make it more important to facilitate the use and enforcement of private individualized contracts to protect intellectual property than to rely only on standard patent and copyright law. Enabling law is one proposed solution. Current patent legislation in the US has led to costly litigation processes weakening the position of small firms and individuals in patent disputes. The property rights of such firms and individuals could be strengthened with insurance or arbitration procedures.
Recommended Citation
Eliasson, G., & Wihlborg, C. (2003). On the macroeconomic effects of establishing tradability in weak property rights. Journal of Evolutionary Economics, 13(5): 607-632. doi: 10.1007/s00191-003-0170-z
Peer Reviewed
1
Copyright
Springer
Included in
Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Internet Law Commons, Macroeconomics Commons, Other Economics Commons, Property Law and Real Estate Commons
Comments
This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Journal of Evolutionary Economics, volume 13, issue 5, in 2003 following peer review. The final publication is available at Springer via DOI: 10.1007/s00191-003-0170-z.