This paper analyzes the incentive properties of the standard and burden of proof for a finding of negligence, when evidence about injurers' behavior is imperfect and rests with the parties. We show that the `preponderance of evidence' standard used in common law, together with ordinary exclusion...

We argue that the common-law standard of proof, given the rulesof evidence, does not minimize expected error as usually argued inthe legal literature, but may well be e±cient from the standpointof providing maximal incentives for socially desirable behavior.By contrast, civil law's higher but...

Research and Development (R&D) and innovation are crucial features of the seed industry. To supportlarge R&D investments by the private sector, strong intellectual property rights, such as patents, arenecessary. The exclusivity granted by patents naturally creates market power positions and...

Agent-based Computational Economics (ACE) is the computational study of economic processesmodeled as dynamic systems of interacting agents. This essay discusses the potentialuse of ACE modeling tools for the study of macroeconomic systems. Points are illustratedusing an ACE model of a two-sector...

The aim of this paper is to review and summarise the results of selected empirical studies on performance gaps between multinational enterprises and their domestic counterparts.

Showcasing data from all areas of the ILC program and other sources, Charting International Labor Comparisons is a gateway to explore how key labor market and other national economic measurements compare across countries. There are links to previous editions of the Chartbook of International...

Basic innovations are often fundamental to the development of applications that maybe developed by other innovators. In this setting, we investigate whether patent pools canrectify the lack of incentives for developers to invest in applications. Following Green andScotchmer (1995), we also...

We consider how the amount of the technology transferred and the characteristics of the partneraffect licensing. We find that a partial technology transfer can be the joint-profit minimizingtransfer, though under weakly concave demand, a complete transfer always increases joint profitif there...

Intellectual property rights are legal constraints that limit entry in industries where incumbentsare innovators. The set of legal constraints is the same for all industries, withoutconsidering that the externalities created by entry are not necessarily negative for the incumbentor that the...