Lost property: The European patent system and why it doesn't work
by Bruno van Pottelsberghe on 29 June 2009
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Category: BLUEPRINTS
Topics: European and global governance, Research, innovation and growth, Trade, investment and competitiveness
In his blueprint, Bruno van Pottelsberghe first looks at the performance of patent arrangements in Europe, especially their cost effectiveness and the consistency of rules and remedies across countries. He then looks at current attempts at global patent cooperation to see if they will help or hinder the emergence of innovation worldwide and in Europe. Using new and hard-hitting data, van Pottelsberghe paints a dark picture of today's patent landscape both in Europe and internationally. It is a tale of failed public cooperation at all levels and of a regime in danger of rampant patent inflation unless minds and resources are focused on tackling the root causes of the problem. This blueprint comes forward with a sequence of concrete, short-, medium- and long-term policy recommendations to this end.
Of markets, products and prices- the effects of the euro on European firms
by Lionel Fontagné , Thierry Mayer , Gianmarco Ottaviano on 09 February 2009
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Category: BLUEPRINTS
Topics: Competition and single market, Currencies and International finance, Trade, investment and competitiveness
In this Blueprint, Lionel Fontagné, Thierry Mayer and Gianmarco Ottaviano, show that trade flows have not increased meaningfully since the introduction of the euro. However, trade volume can be a misleading yardstick. Other obstacles – be it differences in regulation, legal framework, taxes or language – are significant enough to continue to act as binding constraints on internationalisation. In terms of prices, the authors find that the euro has resulted in less volatile and lower prices, especially within the euro area, and this is a clear plus for consumers.
Beyond the WTO? An anatomy of EU and US preferential trade agreements
by Henrik Horn, Petros C. Mavroidis , André Sapir on 09 February 2009
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Category: BLUEPRINTS
Topics: Emerging economies and development, European and global governance, Trade, investment and competitiveness
This Blueprint looks in detail at all the provisions of all the PTAs signed by the EC or the US and other WTO members. Henrik Horn, Petros C. Mavroidis and André Sapir find that Europe and the US have adopted different approaches to PTAs; however, both powers may also be seeking to project their priorities.
Divisions of labour: rethinking Europe's migration policy
by Jakob von Weizsäcker on 08 October 2008
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Category: BLUEPRINTS
Topics: Labour, migration and ageing
This Blueprint examines why and how Europe‘s migration challenge should be urgently addressed. Jakob von Weizsäcker identifies three priority areas for EU policy action and concrete policy suggestions which could fit with the immigration agenda of the French presidency.
Higher aspirations: an agenda for reforming European universities
by Philippe Aghion, Mathias Dewatripont , Caroline Hoxby , Andreu Mas-Colell, André Sapir on 03 June 2008
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Category: BLUEPRINTS
Topics: Research, innovation and growth
Since the introduction of the Shanghai ranking of the world‘s universities it has been clear that European universities are underperforming. This blueprint discusses the potential explanations and points at different reform priorities for higher education in Europe.