Trade Marks and Brands

Several dimensions of the economics of trade marks and bands is being studied :

The Investment Effects of Allowing Parallel Imports

We develop a theoretical model to examine the nature of the tradeoff, in terms of social costs and benefits, between allowing and banning parallel imports. We take into account how parallel importing may affect the incentive of authorized distributors to invest in quality-enhancing activities in distribution.

Alfons Palangkaraya and Jongsay Yong, Parallel Imports, Market Size and Investment Incentive.   Abstract   PDF format (337K)

The value of trade marks

Estimates of the size of the price premia consumers pay across a wide range of product categories – for branded products with respect to economic conditions (such as the level of competition and the macroeconomic environment), the type of good and the characteristics of the trade mark. In addition we have several studies of the effects of trademarking activity on company profits and value.

Completed papers include:

Jensen, P. and E. Webster (2008) ‘Labelling Characteristics and Demand for Retail Grocery Products in Australia’ Australian Economic Papers, 47(2), 129-140.

Paul H. Jensen and Elizabeth Webster, Market Power, Brand Characteristics and Demand for Retail Grocery Products, Abstract  PDF format (367K)

Christine Greenhalgh and Mark Rogers, Trade Marks and Market Value in UK Firms, Abstract  PDF format (244K)

William E. Griffiths, Paul H. Jensen and Elizabeth Webster, The Effects on Firm Profits of the Stock of Intellectual Property Rights, Abstract  PDF format (289K).

William Griffiths and Elizabeth Webster, Trends in the Value of Intellectual Property in Australia, PDF Format (200 KB). Published in The management of intellectual property, (2006) Eds. D. Bosworth and E. Webster, Cheltenham, UK and Brookfield, US: Edward Elgar.

Reasons for trademarking

We have underken a time series/industry based analysis of their growth to help identify the sources of change between industries and over time.

Completed papers include:

Paul H. Jensen and Elizabeth Webster, Patterns of Trademarking Activity in Australia, Abstract  PDF format (99K) (published as Jensen, P. and Webster, E. (2004) ‘Recent patterns of trade marking activity in Australia ’, Australian Intellectual Property Journal, 15(2), 112-126. A section reprinted in Business Law and Society (forthcoming), Terry & Giungi, Thomson Lawbook Co. )

Joanne Loundes and Mark Rogers, The Rise of Trade Marking in Australia in the 1990s, Abstract  PDF format (262K)

For further information on these papers or the data sets used please contact Drs Paul Jensen, Beth Webster or Jongsay Yong.