Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2019
Abstract
Economists generally agree that innovation is important to economic growth and that government support for innovation is necessary. Historically, the U.S. government has supported innovation in a variety of ways: (1) a strong legal system for patents; (2) direct support through research performed by government agencies, grants, loans, and loan guarantees; and (3) indirect support through various tax incentives for private firms. In recent years, however, we have seen a weakening of the U.S. patent system, a decline in direct funding of research, and a weakening of tax policy tools used to encourage new innovation. These disruptive changes threaten the future of innovation in the United States, potentially driving innovation activities offshore to Europe and China. This Article concludes that the current innovation crisis demands changes to both the patent and tax systems in order to instill confidence in the innovation landscape.
Publication Title
Boston University Law Review
Volume
99
Article Number
1120
First Page
1687
Suggested Bluebook Citation
Jeffrey A. Maine,
Attacking Innovation,
99
B.U. L.Rev.
1687
(2019).
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.mainelaw.maine.edu/faculty-publications/119
Included in
Intellectual Property Law Commons, Science and Technology Law Commons, Taxation-Federal Commons, Taxation-Transnational Commons