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The advent of new biotechnologies implies significant changes in the world, both biologically and industrially. Biologically, these new technologies represent changes on a scale never before witnessed in the context of evolutionary systems. How these systems will respond to these changes is uncertain and potentially very significant. The first part of this volume addresses these issues in a series of chapters considering the manner in which societies might analyse and manage these systemic responses to biotechnological changes. The second part of the volume addresses the industrial issues concerning biotechnologies. One of the primary motivations for these changes is to enhance the appropriability of the value of innovation occurring within the life sciences sectors. Changing to a property rights-based system of biotechnology has implications for the nature of research and development within these sectors, and the diffusion and distribution of its benefits across the globe. Another set of chapters in this volume sets out a framework for considering these important industrial issues. The volume is the outcome of a two-year project on the economics of managing biotechnologies in agriculture. It is recommended to academics and policy makers interested in the issues concerning society's options in the management of this process of technological change.
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The Economics of Managing Biotechnologies Economy & Environment VOLUME 22 Scientific Advisory Board Scott Barrett, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Washington DC, U.S.A. Klaus Conrad, University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany David James, Ecoservices Pty. Ltd., Whale Beach, New South Wales, Australia Bengt J. Kriström, University of Umea, Sweden Raymond Prince, Congressional Budget Office, U.S. Congress, Washington DC, U.S.A. Domenico Siniscalco, ENI-Enrico Mattei, Milano, Italy / University of Torino, Italy The titles published in this series are listed at the end of this volume. The Economics of Managing Biotechnologies Edited by Timothy Swanson Department of Economics and School of Law, University College London, United Kingdom KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS NEW YORK, BOSTON, DORDRECHT, LONDON, MOSCOW eBook ISBN: Print ISBN: 0-306-47659-2 1-4020-0499-0 ©2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers New York, Boston, Dordrecht, London, Moscow Print ©2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers Dordrecht All rights reserved No part of this eBook may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without written consent from the Publisher Created in the United States of America Visit Kluwer Online at: and Kluwer's eBookstore at: http://kluweronline.com http://ebooks.kluweronline.com Table of Contents Preface vii Acknowledgements xiii List of Contributors xv Part A: Surveying the Issues: Technologies, Biology and Economics 1. Biosafety in Agricultural Biotechnology: Balancing Social and Environmental Impacts Charles Spillane and Yvonne Pinto 3 2. Pest Resistance in Agriculture: An Economic Perspective Uri Regev 51 3. Biotechnology for Planted Forests: An Assessment of Biological, Economic and Environmental Possibilities and Limitations Roger A. Sedjo 71 Part B: Managing Technology: The Economics of Managing Technological Developments 4. On the Economic Limits to Technological Potential: Will Industry Resolve the Resistance Problem? Timo Goeschl and Timothy Swanson 99 5. Providing the Correct Incentives for Genetic Modification Lucy O’Shea and Alistair Ulph 129 6. Decision Making under Temporal Uncertainty and Irreversibility: Benchmark Values fo