Inciting protocols

Abstract

This paper studies patenting decisions by firms in relation to the negotiation and signing of the Helsinki and Oslo protocol as part of the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution.We use a uniquely constructed patent dataset on SO 2 abatement technologies filed in 15 signatory and non-signatory countries in the period 1970-1997. The data distinguish between so-called 'mother' patents, or original inventions, and 'family' patents, which represent the sam einvention but are patents filed in foreign countries. Our analysis suggests that not only local environmental regulations matter for patenting decisions. International environmental agreements provide incentives for additional inventive activity in and the diffusion of knowledge towards signatory countries by reducing investmentun certainty for inventing firms

The Role of Standards in Eco-Innovation: Lessons for Policymakers

“…As noted before, IEAs may not only specify countryspecific emission reduction commitments but also coordinate the standardization process like monitoring and verification procedures through which countries should implement their commitments (Sliggers and Kakebeeke, 2004). Dekker et al (2012) show that the IEA on SO 2 reduction matters for both invention of new technology as well as their international diffusion. IEAs seem to play a separate role in the strategic decisions of firms to transfer and protect their knowledge abroad.…”

“…Indeed, inventing firms can transfer their knowledge intentionally by seeking patent protection abroad. Dekker et al (2012) show that not only local policy standards are important for such knowledge transfers, but also international environmental agreements have this kind of impact.…”

“…For the same eco-innovations in the field of SO 2 emission reduction studied by Popp (2006), both Matsuno et al (2010) and Dekker et al (2012) report that patenting decisions of inventing firms, in particular in Germany and Japan, not only react to changing regulations at home, but also to changes abroad. Indeed, inventing firms can transfer their knowledge intentionally by seeking patent protection abroad.…”

Greening Global Value Chains: Innovation and the International Diffusion of Technologies and Knowledge

“…To begin with, such agreements necessarily increase the demand for green technologies in participating countries. They thus boost domestic innovation and the import of foreign technologies as established for example by Dekker et al (2012) in the case of the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution.…”

The International Strengthening of Ipr and Air Pollution Abatement: The Role of the Trips Agreement

“…Applied research on the consequences of technology transfers from North to South of the world have overlooked the effects on environmental friendly process implementation (Bessen, Maskin 2009;Boring 2015;Branstetter et al 2011Branstetter et al , 2006Chen, Puttitanum 2005;Evenson, Kumar 2003;Seo et al 2015;Hübler 2011;Ivus 2010;Lai 1998;Lerner 2002;McCalman 2005;Sakakibara, Branstetter 2001;Scherer, Weisburst 1995;Yang, Kuo 2008;Žigic 1998) 4 , with few notable exceptions (Dechezleprêtre et al 2013;Dekker et al 2012;Lovely, Popp 2011;Wang et al 2012). This little stream of literature found a strong and significant positive correlation between technological progress and pollution reduction.…”