,Promoting Good Ideas on Drugs: Are Patents the Best Way?

Promoting Good Ideas on Drugs: Are Patents the Best Way?


 

Publication Date: October 2002

Publisher: Center for Economic and Policy Research

Author(s): Dean Baker; Noriko Chatani

Research Area: Health

Keywords: Patent monopolies; Prescription drugs; Public domain

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

This paper notes six important ways in which patent rents in the pharmaceutical industry lead to wasteful or harmful behavior, and explores alternative systems that would be more efficient.