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The Economics of IP

Intellectual property (IP) protection is an important component of national economic policies. Governments face complex choices on how to design an IP system that best serves their policy objectives, and how to respond to changes in technology and in business models that challenge the status quo.

WIPO seeks to contribute to a better understanding of the economic effects of different IP policy choices and to offer a first entry point for information on the economics of IP.

(Photo: iStockphoto.com/shironosov)

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Publications

WIPO synthesizes economic analysis, conducts original research, and commissions studies from academic economists. The resulting publications – taking the form of World IP Reports, WIPO Economic Research Working Papers, and Miscellaneous Economics Publications – seek to inform the public policy discourse on IP protection.

GII 2018

Global Innovation Index

The Global Innovation Index (GII) ranks the innovation performance of some 130 countries and economies around the world, based on 80+ indicators. The GII is co-published by WIPO, Cornell University and INSEAD.

WIPR

World Intellectual Property Report

The World Intellectual Property Report is published every two years, with each edition focusing on specific trends in an area of IP.

WIPO economic research working papers

The WIPO Economic Research Working Paper Series includes economic and statistical studies that are the outcome of professional research.

Development studies

Development studies include WIPO economic research projects contributing to narrowing the knowledge gap faced by IP policymakers in developing economies.

Databases

Economics Literature Database

WIPO’s Economics Literature Database is a knowledge tool for researchers, policy-makers, and anyone interested in the economics of IP. Browse the database to get a snapshot of the key academic literature in this field.

Data for Researchers

WIPO's Data for Researchers page lists links to databases containing innovation-related statistics that are frequently used in economics studies. It is a convenient starting point for researchers who are interested in obtaining empirical raw data on the subject matter.

Seminar series

The WIPO Seminar Series on the Economics of Intellectual Property features economists from around the world, presenting their latest research to a policy-oriented audience. It seeks to stimulate an informed discourse on the effects of IP policies on economic performance.

Insights from economists on YouTube

Latest seminar

Video: Digitization and the Quality and Quantity of New Music, Books, and Movies - October 15, 2015

Related links

IP statistics

WIPO cooperates with IP offices across the world to collate, analyze and publish up-to-date statistics, including reports on IP filing activity worldwide. Find out more about WIPO statistics.

About IP

Policy topics