In endogenous growth theory models have either increasing or constant ranges of product variety. Developments in modem biotechnology however show cases of increasing, decreasing or constant ranges of product variants. We present a simple endogenous growth model allowing for all of these three...

In the 1990s, patenting schemes changed in many respects: Upcoming new technologies accelerated the shift from price competition towards competition based on technical inventions, a worldwide surge in patenting took place, and the 'patent thicket' arose as a consequence of strategic patenting....