What is the economic potential of trade in ideas?

What is the economic potential of trade in ideas?
Trade in Ideas Program World Trade Organization Panel

Adjunct professor Eskil Ullberg was invited to present the Trade in Ideas pilot-study at the World Trade Organization on November 26, 2018. This forward-looking study works towards leveraging human capital formation of developing nations through markets in patents. The pilot-study presentation was introduced by Deputy Director General Xiaozhun Yi. Eskil Ullberg gave an overview of the project results and the recent developments in the program. The pilot-study provided survey findings on cross-border licensing practices and prices, and trade barriers faced by inventors. Chile, El Salvador, Peru, and Uganda provided information on the experience from the pilot-study of their respective countries. The main result, 10 follow-on projects were presented, covering both the internal and external political-economic policy processes, including an update of an already started statistics frameworks for trade in ideas. The presentation was moderated by Chief Economist Koopman.

As a key initiative, the Trade in Ideas Program will provide least developed countries (LDC) with important information on beginning licensing of own patented technology with the global community. Among the next steps will be to inform a national and international discussion on trade policies ideally at poly-lateral and multi-lateral levels.

To view the program’s video recording, visit the World Trade Organization’s website.

To stay updated with the Trade in Idea Program, please visit Eskil Ullberg’s blog.