Intellectual Property, Innovation and Economic Inequality

By Prof. Daniel Benoliel

While global disparities in wealth and income have been widely studied, the role of intellectual property (IP) rights in shaping economic inequality remains underexplored. Dr. Daniel Benoliel’s new book, Intellectual Property, Innovation and Economic Inequality, addresses this critical gap.

Published as an Open Access volume by Cambridge University Press, the book brings together leading scholars and experts—including economists, legal theorists, and policy analysts—from around the world. The collection investigates the complex, bidirectional relationship between IP rights and economic inequality, with a particular focus on:

  • The role of IP in reinforcing or reducing inequality
  • How inequality impacts the enforcement and accessibility of innovation
  • Global disparities in innovation—North-South divides
  • Race and gender-based inequality within innovation ecosystems

This interdisciplinary and globally oriented work offers both theoretical insights and practical policy recommendations.