Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Rasiah, Rajah
Author-Email: rasiah@intech.unu.edu
Author-Workplace-Name: United Nations University, Institute for New Technologies
Title: TRIPs and Capability Building in Developing Economies
Abstract: This paper argues that three major issues need to be addressed when examining the
	 effects of the WTO's TRIPs agreement on capability building in developing
	 economies. First, the agreement looks at seven instruments, which have both common
	 as well as differing implications for capability building in developing economies.
	 Second, four major theoretical arguments address the agreement, i.e.
	 market-oriented, regulation, path-dependent knowledge dynamics and network
	 synergies, and public and basic good characteristics of certain IPRs. Third, the
	 capacity of economies to participate actively in the agreement depends on basic and
	 high tech capabilities. The LIDEs have neither the basic infrastructure to ensure
	 compliance nor the high tech infrastructure to support innovative activities. The
	 Asian NIEs - especially the Republic of Korea - enjoy strong high tech and
	 innovative capabilities. The second-tier NIEs and Latin American NIEs are generally
	 endowed with strong basic infrastructure to strengthen compliance, but lack the
	 high tech infrastructure to support innovative activities. Indeed, The LIDEs on
	 average show higher levels of high tech infrastructure and resident patents than
	 the second-tier NIEs. However, Indonesia and Philippines face serious shortcomings
	 even in basic infrastructure
Keywords: World Trade Organisation, Trade, Intellectual Property Rights, Capability
	 Building, Innovation, Developing Economies
Series: Discussion Paper
Creation-Date: 2002
Number: 2002-01
File-URL: https://www.merit.unu.edu/publications/discussion-papers/2002-1.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 262 Kb
Handle: RePEc:unm:unuint:200201