Do Patent Protection and Technology Transfer Facilitate R & D in Developed and Emerging Countries? A Semiparametric Study

摘要

This paper examines if patent protection and technology transfer facilitate R & D in a sample that includes both developed and emerging countries. A semiparametric model is used to estimate the relevant parameters using country level data from 21 countries, of which six are emerging, for the period 1981-1997. The results suggest thresholds in patent protection and technology transfer: patent protection has a positive effect which weakens at high levels of protection, and FDI has a positive effect only if the country depends heavily on FDI.