Do patents really foster innovation in the pharmaceutical sector? Results from an evolutionary, agent-based model

Giovanni Dosi, Elisa Palagi, Andrea Roventini and Emanuele Russo

LEM Papers Series from Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy

Abstract: The role of the patent system in the pharmaceutical sector is highly debated also due to its strong public health implications. In this paper we develop an evolutionary, agent-based model of the pharmaceutical industry to explore the impact of different configurations of the patent system upon innovation and competition. The model is able to replicate the main stylized facts of the drug industry as emergent properties. We perform policy experiments to assess the impact of different IPR regimes changing the breadth and length of patents. Results suggest that enlarging the extent and duration of patents yields adverse effects in terms of innovation outcomes, as well as of market competition and consumer welfare. Such general conclusions hold even if one takes into account the possible positive effects on R&D intensity and information disclosure triggered by patents.

Keywords: Innovation; Intellectual property rights; Market power; Pharmaceutical sector; Agent-based models. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-10-28
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cmp, nep-com, nep-cta, nep-evo, nep-hea, nep-hme, nep-ino, nep-ipr and nep-tid
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Do patents really foster innovation in the pharmaceutical sector? Results from an evolutionary, agent-based model (2023)
Working Paper: Do patents really foster innovation in the pharmaceutical sector? Results from an evolutionary, agent-based model (2021)
Working Paper: Do patents really foster innovation in the pharmaceutical sector? Results from an evolutionary, agent-based model (2021)
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