The first comprehensive textbook covering all aspects of the economics of innovation and the role of intellectual property in encouraging or discouraging innovation.

Innovation is widely viewed as the engine behind economic growth, and it has assumed increasing importance in contemporary economic research. In The Economics of Innovation and Intellectual Property, Bronwyn H. Hall and Christian Helmers introduce readers to the use of economic analysis for the understanding of technical change and the innovative process, its determinants, and consequences.

The authors cover innovation basics, the measurement of returns to innovation for individuals and the economy, and the use of intellectual property protection by innovators. They focus on the various ways patents have been used by industry to secure returns to innovation, as well as the strategic use of patents, and they emphasize present-day technologies including pharmaceuticals, software, and AI.

Clearly organized and accessible, The Economics of Innovation and Intellectual Property offers a useful introduction to economics, business, public policy, and legal studies, and provides a comprehensive collection of references and information from a variety of sources across disciplines. It also includes various boxes with definitions and examples, as well as a brief mathematical appendix explaining concepts that may be unfamiliar and an introduction to data sources.