Does parallel trade freedom harm consumers in small markets?

Mueller-Langer, Frank (2009): Does parallel trade freedom harm consumers in small markets? Published in: Croatian Economic Survey , Vol. 1, No. 11 (15 April 2009): pp. 11-41.

Abstract

Countries can freely decide whether to permit or ban parallel trade. Article 6 of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) – being the only provision in the various international agreements on intellectual property rights that deals with the treatment of parallel trade – preserves the territorial privilege for regulating parallel trade. In a parallel trade model with two heterogeneous countries in terms of market size, we address the question as to whether parallel trade freedom is beneficial or detrimental from a consumer’s perspective. In particular, the model suggests that parallel trade freedom is detrimental to consumers in the country with the smaller market as less of a certain product is sold at a higher price. However, parallel trade freedom is likely to be beneficial to consumers in the country with the larger market. We also find that the smaller country, in terms of market size, will remain unserved under parallel trade freedom if the second country is sufficiently attractive in terms of market size.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Parallel trade; economic analysis of intellectual property rights
• Subjects: K - Law and Economics > K3 - Other Substantive Areas of Law > K33 - International Law; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O3 - Innovation ; Research and Development ; Technological Change ; Intellectual Property Rights > O34 - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital

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