Chiara Strozzi

Intellectual Property Rights, Migration, and Diaspora

In this paper we study theoretically and empirically the role of the interaction between skilled migration and intellectual property rights (IPRs) protection in determining innovation in developing countries (South). We show that although emigration from the South may directly result in the well-known concept of brain drain, it also causes a brain gain effect, the extent of which depends on the level of IPRs protection in the sending country. We argue this to come from a diaspora channel through which the knowledge acquired by emigrants abroad can flow back to the South and enhance the skills of the remaining workers there. By increasing the size of the innovation sector and the skill-intensity of emigration, IPRs protection makes it more likely for diaspora gains to dominate, thus facilitating a potential net brain gain. Our main theoretical insights are then tested empirically using a panel dataset of emerging and developing countries. The findings reveal a positive correlation between emigration and innovation in the presence of strong IPRs protection.

Can Intellectual Property Rights Protection Generate Brain Gain from International Migration

This paper studies the interaction between international migration and intellectual property rights (IPR) in determining innovation performance of developing countries. Although emigration may directly cause brain drain, it generates a flow of knowledge acquired by emigrants abroad back to their home countries, which could be better absorbed under sound IPR institutions. IPRs thus work as a moderating factor to overcome brain drain by creating the conditions to better absorb potential gains from migration. Using a panel dataset of emerging and developing countries, we establish a positive correlation between emigration and innovation when IPRs are sufficiently strong.

The regional distribution of public employment: theory and evidence

ABSTRACT The regional distribution of public employment: theory and evidence. Regional Studies. This article analyzes the optimal regional pattern of public employment in an information-constrained second-best redistribution policy. It shows that regionally differentiated public employment can serve as an expenditure side-tagging device, bypassing or relaxing the equity-efficiency trade-off. The optimal pattern exhibits higher levels of public employment in low-productivity regions and is more pronounced the higher is the degree of regional inequality. Empirically, using a panel of European regions from 1995 to 2007, the analysis finds evidence that public employment is systematically higher in low-productivity regions. The latter effect is stronger in countries with higher levels of regional inequality.

Intellectual property rights and diaspora knowledge networks: Can patent protection generate brain gain from skilled migration?

This paper studies the mechanism through which intellectual property rights (IPR) protection can influence the impact of skilled migration on innovation activities in developing countries. We argue that knowledge acquired by emigrants abroad can flow back to their country of origin through diaspora networks. IPR protection in the sending country facilitates this channel by increasing returns to skills and encouraging workers to move into the innovation sector. An expansion of the innovation sector allows diaspora knowledge to be absorbed by a larger range of workers. Strong IPR enforcement therefore makes it more likely for brain drain to be transformed into brain gain.

Intellectual Property Rights and Diaspora Knowledge Networks

This paper studies mechanism through which intellectual property rights (IPR) protection can influence the impact of skilled migration on innovation activities in developing countries. We argue that knowledge acquired by emigrants abroad can flow back to their country of origin through diaspora networks. IPR protection in the sending country magnifies this effect by increasing the size of the innovation sector, thereby allowing diaspora gains to fall on a larger range of workers. Strong IPR enforcement therefore makes it more likely for brain drain to be transformed into brain gain.

Cyclicality of Real Wages in the Euro Area and OECD Countries

The group of contributors in this book come from academia and international organizations in Europe and the USA. They focus on trade unions, which affect real-wage flexibility and the provision of training to workers. They also concentrate on employment protection legislation, which discourages firms from firing old workers and also from hiring new ones. The structure of housing market imperfections that can greatly affect regional mobility is also discussed.