Effects of Copyrights on Science: Evidence from the WWII Book Republication Program
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Abstract
Copyrights, which establish intellectual property in music, science, and other creative goods, are intended to encourage creativity. Yet, copyrights also raise the cost of accessing existing workâpotentially discouraging future innovation. This paper uses an exogenous shift toward weak copyrights (and low access costs) during World War II to examine the potentially adverse effects of copyrights on science. Using two alternative identification strategies, we show that weaker copyrights encouraged the creation of follow-on science, measured by citations. This change is driven by a reduction in access costs, allowing scientists at less affluent institutions to use existing knowledge in new follow-on research.Citation
Biasi, Barbara, and Petra Moser. 2021. "Effects of Copyrights on Science: Evidence from the WWII Book Republication Program." American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, 13 (4): 218-60. DOI: 10.1257/mic.20190113Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- I23 Higher Education; Research Institutions
- K11 Property Law
- L82 Entertainment; Media
- N42 Economic History: Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation: U.S.; Canada: 1913-
- O34 Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital
- Z11 Cultural Economics: Economics of the Arts and Literature
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