ABSTRACT
Several recent new directions in economic theory seem to be pointing toward an important role for intellectual property in the study of economic development. The word "monopoly" is quickly associated with antitrust, making it easy to dismiss intellectual property as at least a faintly negative factor in economic activity, if not a pernicious influence. This chapter indicates why economists have not been led to the subject of intellectual property protection as a factor in Third World economic development. A very recent compilation of essays edited by Rushing and Brown makes international comparisons of the role of intellectual property in science, technology and economic performance. Among the scattering of perspectives and tangential observations contained in this collection, several of the papers directly address the intersection of intellectual property and developing country economic activity. The patent controversy of the last century aired a number of economic views regarding this form of intellectual property protection.
