ABSTRACT

This seminar provides an initial report on some early findings from The Valuation of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) in Current and Future Markets project being undertaken for IP Australia by the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, The Australian National University (ANU). IK includes Traditional Knowledge (TK, know-how, practices, skills and innovations developed by Indigenous Peoples including genetic resources etc.) and Traditional Cultural Expressions (TCEs, traditional languages, music, performance, art works, designs, stories etc.). IK can be classified as a 'mixed good' for the purposes of an economic analysis, which takes on different characteristics in different contexts (Blackwell, Stratton & Hunter, forthcoming). IK is a 'pure public good' where it is freely shared by all, a 'club good' when it is shared amongst a local community and a 'private good' when it is protected by IP rights. This latter type of good is the focus of the IP Australia project. IP rights under IP Australia's jurisdiction include: patents, trade marks, designs, licenses and plant breeders' rights. In designing an innovation system that encourages the commercial uses of IK, there is a need to balance these against the broad uses of IK. One must balance the broader societal and national benefits from sharing IK with the need to ensure that IK is sufficiently protected and rewards and respects the creators and custodians of IK. In practice, this is a particularly complex task given the arguably hybrid nature of the Indigenous economy. Given the mixed good nature of IK, it is important to have a diverse system of governance of IK, including IP rights and protocols that respects the wishes of Indigenous Peoples. We initially find that a dual approach to the valuation of IK in markets is desirable, with macro (broad economic view) and micro (case specific studies that are indicative on the main issues in particular markets) providing insights into the potential monetary value of IK in current and future markets. The question over the attribution of IK in any given industry needs to be considered within the context of the contribution made by all other factors as well (like land, labour and other assets like equipment and technology). Attribution of value to IK could be partially addressed within case specific analysis using a standard economic analysis of production function or variation of equity/share prices associated with use of IK.

Bios

Dr Boyd Hunter is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Social Research and Methods, The ANU. He is currently President of the Australian Society of Labour Economics and a Fellow of IZA in Berlin. Boyd has been the Managing Editor and Editor of the Australian Journal of Labour Economics and the Australian Journal of Social Issues. His main area of research and teaching involve the economic history of ‘The Indigenous Economy’ and ongoing economic analysis of Indigenous business. He also has considerable contemporaneous social and economic policy issues including those associated with drought.

Dr Boyd Blackwell is a Senior Research Officer with Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, ANU undertaking the Indigenous knowledge valuation project. He has over 20 years of experience in applied economics having valued a range of goods and services from beach recreation to World Heritage icon status, wastewater recycling and the impact of remote research and innovation. Most recently he was Principal Research Leader of the Enduring Community Value from Mining Project of the Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation managed by Ninti One Ltd for almost seven years. He is also currently President of the Australia New Zealand Society for Ecological Economics and owns his own consulting business.