TRIPS agreement has been a milestone in the present trend towards international harmonization of intellectual property's protection (including patents' protection), where harmonization means to increase the protection level in developing countries according to the more rigorous standards of developed ones. Considering the economic theory of patents together with historical and empirical evidences, it is argued that international harmonization of patents' protection as it is settled by TRIPS agreement is not favorable to developing countries' economic development.

RESUMO As ideias de Douglass North, apesar de seu prêmio Nobel de 1993, ainda são pouco conhecidas entre os economistas brasileiros. Esse desconhecimento é deplorável não apenas pela relevância de suas ideias para a teoria atual do desenvolvimento, mas também por sua nova (e bastante heterodoxa) contribuição para a análise do papel econômico do Estado moderno. Este artigo apresenta uma síntese da discussão de North sobre o papel institucional do Estado no sistema econômico. Mostra-se que, no pensamento de North, esse papel compreende não apenas a aplicação dos direitos de propriedade, mas, mais importante, a definição e atribuição desses direitos.

ABSTRACT Douglass North’s ideas, notwithstanding his 1993’s Nobel award are still barely known among Brazilian economists. This unawareness is deplorable not only because the relevance of his ideas to current development theory but also for his new (and rather heterodox) contribution to the analysis of the modern State’s economic role. This paper presents a synthesis of North’s discussion concerning the institutional role of the State in the economic system. It is shown that in North’s thought that role comprehends not only the enforcement of property rights but more importantly the definition and attribution of those rights.

ABSTRACT This paper discusses the importance of the differences between classical and marginalist economic theories, with a special interest on David Ricardo’s thought. In order to analyse the theoretical incompatibility among classicals and marginalists, the critical hypotheses to prove the referred incompatibility are settled and checked. It is seen that the most important element in distinguishing classicals and marginalists is the difference in the approach to the labor market. In fact, the classical determination of the wage rate is sharply distinct from the General Equilibrium Theory, based on the supply and demand principle.

RESUMO Este artigo discute a importância das diferenças entre teorias econômicas clássicas e marginalistas, com especial interesse no pensamento de David Ricardo. Vê-se que o elemento mais importante na distinção entre clássicos e marginalistas é a diferença na abordagem do mercado de trabalho. De fato, a determinação clássica da taxa salarial é nitidamente distinta da Teoria do Equilíbrio Geral, baseada no princípio da oferta e da demanda.