Description: The Economics of African Indigenous Knowledge

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The Economics of African Indigenous Knowledge

African Indigenous Knowledge (IK) is labeled variously and misconceived at international discussions and in modern literature. The most commonly used phrases are "static," "low-value-added" and "prior art", primarily i...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author:	World Bank
Language:	English
Published:	Washington, DC 2012
Subjects:	AGRICULTURE COST OF INNOVATION ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES ECONOMICS INCOME INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE INNOVATION INNOVATIONS KNOWLEDGE RESOURCES LEARNING LIVESTOCK MARGINAL COST MEDICINE MOTIVATION NEW PRODUCT NGOS PARTNERSHIP PATIENTS PRODUCTIVITY PROPERTY RIGHTS PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS SOCIAL POLICY INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE TRADITIONAL MEDICINE TRADITIONAL HEALTH CARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MEDICINAL PLANTS RURAL COMMUNITIES LOCAL COMMUNITIES HERBS RURAL HEALTH INCENTIVES
Online Access:	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2003/02/2368300/economics-african-indigenous-knowledge http://hdl.handle.net/10986/10784

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Summary:	African Indigenous Knowledge (IK) is labeled variously and misconceived at international discussions and in modern literature. The most commonly used phrases are "static," "low-value-added" and "prior art", primarily in the context of the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), of the World Trade Organization. Frequently one finds expressions like mystery, charlatan, irrational, or miracle in relation to traditional medicine, for instance. Achievements of traditional medicine are considered anecdotal or beyond scientific validation. The misconception is further aggravated by the little or no growth in the sector and a lack of understanding of the context in which practitioners apply traditional medicine. Yet the literature produced on this sector has not given much attention to the factors that underpin these misconceptions is further aggravated by the little or no growth in the sector and a lack of understanding of the context in which practitioners apply traditional medicine.