Publication

This report discusses theories and evidence regarding how intellectual property protection affects incentives for international technology transfer (ITT). The author analyzes market-mediated and informal ITT, and highlights that inherent shortcomings in technology markets justify public intervention, such as through the system of intellectual property rights (IPRs). IPRs have little impact on technology acquisition for less developed countries however, so this paper makes numerous suggestions for improving positive incentives for ITT from developed countries.