5 crédits
30.0 h
Q1
Enseignants
Belleflamme Paul;
Langue
d'enseignement
d'enseignement
Anglais
Préalables
Micro-économie intermédiaire et introduction à l'organisation industrielle
Thèmes abordés
The course aims at analysing the mechanisms and institutions governing the production, use and diffusion of information and knowledge. It also aims at developing a rigorous economic analysis of a large set of issues surrounding intellectual property, R&D and innovation. In this field, the economic approach appears as fundamental as it focuses on markets, incentives and strategic interaction.
Acquis
d'apprentissage
d'apprentissage
A la fin de cette unité d’enseignement, l’étudiant est capable de : | |
| 1 | Having regard to the LO of the programme, this activity contributes to the development and acquisition of the following LO:
At the end of this course, the student will be able to:
|
La contribution de cette UE au développement et à la maîtrise des compétences et acquis du (des) programme(s) est accessible à la fin de cette fiche, dans la partie « Programmes/formations proposant cette unité d’enseignement (UE) ».
Contenu
Summary, content and methods
- We introduce the main concepts and explain why activities generating information and knowledge are marred by three sources of market failures, which contribute to create a generic problem of appropriability.
- We compare various public policy measures that are designed to alleviate this problem of appropriability.
- We assess the effect of market structure on the incentives for R&D.
- We study how patent protection should optimally be designed. In particular, we address the questions of the optimal length and breadth of patents.
- We apply the previous general analyses to the specificities of the digital economy. Two topical issues are addressed: the piracy of digital products and the development of open-source software.
- Information and appropriability
- Market structure and incentives for R&D
- Patents and efficiency
- Intellectual property in the digital economy
Méthodes d'enseignement
The theoretical material is presented during the lectures. Students are asked to work in groups and individually in order to apply the theoretical framework to specific case studies and/or to topical issues.
In-class activities
In-class activities
- Lectures
- Group discussions
- Testimonies by external experts
- Readings to prepare the lectures
- Assignments
Modes d'évaluation
des acquis des étudiants
des acquis des étudiants
The final grade in this course is based on grades in individual coursework (40%), group coursework (40%) and final exam (20%).
- Individual coursework. The individual coursework consists of written answers to quiz questions about the cases discussed in class. Each quiz will consist of a single question, asking for a justified opinion. Your response to each quiz should be 300-500 words long. All quizzes are required to be completed, and the mark will consist of quiz answers relating to two cases, to be selected at random at the end of the course. Please bear in mind that – in addition to being marked – the quizzes have the purpose to prepare you for the class discussion.
- Group coursework. The task is to devise and develop a business case for an existing business. Each team is expected to submit a written report (max 6,000 words, excluding references and appendix) that provides a compelling argument for a company to invest in and launch a new product or service. Imagine that you work for this company, and that the recipient of the business case is a senior manager from whom you need support to go ahead. Propose a new product or service that you believe this company should introduce. This may be because the company is particularly well placed to introduce a specific innovation, or because it is threatened by competition and will suffer if no action is taken. Use all information that you can find on the company to build your case. This information may include annual reports, regulatory information issued by the company, press information (FT, Economist, etc.) and any other information source that you can identify, such as personal contacts. All members of the team will receive the same mark, regardless of individual contributions.
- Final exam. The final exam is a 1-hour, close-book, written exam covering the entirety of the course. The focus is on economic intuition and interpretation of cases, and not on mathematical reasoning. The exam will be organized in the two regular exam sessions (January and August).
- Important note. The marks for the individual coursework are set once and for all (this part of the assessment cannot be retaken). However, students have the possibility to retake the final exam in August and, if the mark of the group coursework is below 10/20, to replace it with an individual coursework (to be handed in June or in August).
Autres infos
Internationalisation
- international case study
Ressources
en ligne
en ligne
See the Moodle web site of the course.
Bibliographie
References : Provided during the class
Lecture notes and Slides provided through Moodle
Lecture notes and Slides provided through Moodle
Faculté ou entité
en charge
en charge
CLSM
