Econometrica

Journal Of The Econometric Society

An International Society for the Advancement of Economic
Theory in its Relation to Statistics and Mathematics

Edited by: Guido W. Imbens • Print ISSN: 0012-9682 • Online ISSN: 1468-0262

Econometrica: Sep, 1983, Volume 51, Issue 5

Strategic Considerations in Invention and Innovation: The Case of Natural Resources

https://doi.org/0012-9682(198309)51:5<1439:SCIIAI>2.0.CO;2-I
p. 1439-1448

Joseph Stiglitz, Partha Dasgupta, Richard Gilbert

Strategic considerations may induce a resource importing country to invent a substitute earlier than it intends to put it to use. There are also circumstances in which it would wish to delay an invention date even if it could obtain it at an earlier date at no extra cost. Similar paradoxical results obtain if resource cartels behave strategically. Setting prices high may be a way of deterring invention. If those engaged in R & D are not resource users, and the cartel has access to similar R & D technology, it will pre-empt rivals. This may not be the case if resource users can also engage in R & D.


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