Estimating the effects of global patent protection in pharmaceuticals: A case study of quinolones in India

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Chaudhuri, Shubham; Goldberg, Pinelopi K.; Jia, Panle
• 署名单位: The World Bank; Yale University; National Bureau of Economic Research; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0002-8282
• DOI: 10.1257/aer.96.5.1477
• 发表日期: 2006
• 页码: 1477-1514
• 关键词: benefits; COSTS; MEDICINES; demand

摘要

Under the Agreement on Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights, the World Trade Organization members are required to enforce product patents for pharmaceuticals. In this paper we empirically investigate the welfare effects of this requirement on developing countries using data for the fuoroquinolones subsegment of the systemic anti-bacterials segment of the Indian pharmaceuticals market. Our results suggest that concerns about the potential adverse welfare effects of TRIPS may have some basis. We estimate that the withdrawal of all domestic products in this subsegment is associated with substantial welfare losses to the Indian economy, even in the presence of price regulation. The overwhelming portion of this welfare loss derives from the loss of consumer welfare.