Property Rights and Incentives to Invest in Seed Varieties: Governmental Regulations in Argentina

Abstract

This paper analyzes the evolution of property rights legislation in Argentina with respect to new seed varieties. In comparison to the United States, Argentina has weak protection and enforcement of property rights for new seeds. These weak property rights affect the registration and commercialization of new soybean seeds. This paper shows how private producers of seeds react to differences in property rights between Argentina and the United States and also between corn and soybeans. Investment efforts will concentrate on those crops with more secure property rights at the expense of the markets in which property rights are less secure. This effect has important consequences for a developing market producing in a global market.