简介:Giventheexistenceoftransactioncosts,thelocationofpropertyrightsisanimportantfactorindeterminingtheincentivesforefficientlevelsofinvestmentatvariouslevelsoftheindustry.Thispaperappliessomeoftheeconomictheoriesofpropertyrightsandindustrialstructuretotheissuesconcerningtheconservationofbiodiversity.AlthoughtheexpansionofIntellectualPropertyRights(IPR)systemsintotheareaofgeneticresourceshasincreasedprivateinvestmentinR&Dprocessoftheagriculture,itdoesnotgenerateenoughincentivesforinsituconservationofbiodiversity.Tosolvethiseconomicinefficiency,farmers’rightsandotherdesignofincentivesandinstitutionalarrangementshouldbereconsidered.