INTERNATIONAL PATTERNS OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION AND COMMODITY TRADE - AN ECONOMIC-PERSPECTIVE

This article provides an economic perspective on the cross-country pat terns of intellectual property protection and commodity trade and the linkages between these patterns. The objectives are to describe the ch aracteristics of countries in relation to the strength of their intell ectual property protection and to describe the relationship between th e strength of country protection of intellectual property and U.S. exp orts to these countries An economic framework for thinking about these relationships is provided and data are examined for their consistency with the economic interpretations. Findings show that country protect ion of intellectual property is positively related to the level of cou ntry development and that U.S. bilateral exports are positively relate d to the strength of intellectual property protection in the recipient importing country.