Demonstrating the shortcomings of current policy and legal approaches to access and benefit-sharing (ABS) in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), this book recognizes that genetic resources are widely distributed across countries and that bilateral contracts undermine fairness and equity. The book offers a practical and feasible regulatory alternative to ensure the goal of fairness and equity is effectively and efficiently met. Through a legal analysis that also incorporates historic, economic and sociological perspectives, the book argues that genetic resources are not tangible resources but information. It shows that the existing preference for bilateralism and contracts reflects resistance on the part of many of the stakeholders involved in the CBD process to recognize them as such. ABS issues respond very well to the economics of information, yet as the author explains, these have been either sidelined or overlooked. At a time when the Nagoya Protocol on ABS has renewed interest in feasible policy options, the author provides a constructive and provocative critique. The institutional, policy and regulatory framework constitute "bounded openness" under which fairness and equity emerge.

Demonstrating the shortcomings of current policy and legal approaches to access and benefit-sharing (ABS) in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), this book recognizes that genetic resources are widely distributed across countries and that bilateral contracts undermine fairness and equity. The book offers a practical and feasible regulatory alternative to ensure the goal of fairness and equity is effectively and efficiently met. Through a legal analysis that also incorporates historic, economic and sociological perspectives, the book argues that genetic resources are not tangible resources but information. It shows that the existing preference for bilateralism and contracts reflects resistance on the part of many of the stakeholders involved in the CBD process to recognize them as such. ABS issues respond very well to the economics of information, yet as the author explains, these have been either sidelined or overlooked. At a time when the Nagoya Protocol on ABS has renewed interest in feasible policy options, the author provides a constructive and provocative critique. The institutional, policy and regulatory framework constitute "bounded openness" under which fairness and equity emerge.

'The Museum of Bioprospecting, Intellectual Property, and the Public Domain' addresses one of the most heated policy debates of our day: access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits. Seven scholars - an anthropologist, an economist, a sociologist, and four lawyers - discuss how a museum can flesh out the relevant ethical issues that frustrate any purely technical solution. The visitors to the proposed museum become a source of considered judgments. Commercial movies are screened and discussion follows about some aspect of bioprospecting, intellectual property, and the public domain, suggested in the films. Both the screenings and discussions occur in small amphitheatres named according to the uneven chronology in the management of information: 100,00 BC to 16 September 1787 (public domain); 17 September 1787 to today's date (intellectual property); and today's date to (?) (legislation sui generis). The three amphitheatres surround a courtyard cafe which is a metaphor for the mission of the museum: conversation. The scholars vet the blueprint before an imaginary octogenarian who is not at all impressed and will "say the damnedest things." As this 21st century Don Quixote moseys across the chapters and pokes fun at the scholarly ruminations, the reader begins to understand how the proposed museum is indeed a forum for the nuanced ethics over bioprospecting, intellectual property, and the public domain. The dialogue-within-a-dialogue is highly original and entertaining.

'The Museum of Bioprospecting, Intellectual Property, and the Public Domain' addresses one of the most pressing policy issues of our day: intellectual property rights versus the public domain in facilitating access to genetic resources for biotechnology development. The issue is examined in the context of a proposal submitted by seven fictional scholars to an imaginary octogenarian, whose humor provides an original addition to the discussion.

Climate change lends itself to both political economy and humor. Vogel argues that mainstream economics fails to recognize the thermodynamic nature of climate change, thereby missing the point of Northern appropriation of the atmospheric sink. The payment Ecuador seeks for not drilling in the Yasuni is equitable and efficient. Heeding the call of Deirdre (formerly Donald) McCloskey that economics needs humour, Vogel has written a scathing critique of economics-as-usual which also entertains.

Climate change lends itself to both political economy and humor. Vogel argues that mainstream economics fails to recognize the thermodynamic nature of climate change, thereby missing the point of Northern appropriation of the atmospheric sink. The payment Ecuador seeks for not drilling in the Yasuni is equitable and efficient. Heeding the call of Deirdre (formerly Donald) McCloskey that economics needs humour, Vogel has written a scathing critique of economics-as-usual which also entertains.

El cambio climatico y la crisis de extincion entrelazados se prestan a la economia politica. Joseph Henry Vogel ha construido un argumento a favor de llevar a los paises ricos en carbono, pero pobres economicamente, a traves del cuello de botella de la economia de vaquero y hacia el "comercio en el derecho de emisiones" de los paises Anexo I del Protocolo de Kioto. Ecuador sirve como el modelo. "La economia de la Iniciativa Yasuni-ITT" es un contrapunto a muchos niveles a "El Informe Stern" por Sir Nicholas Stern. En el nivel mas basico, Vogel sostiene que Stern se equivoca por su falta de reconocimiento de la naturaleza del cambio climatico como termodinamica, con lo cual pierde de vista la apropiacion del Norte del sumidero atmosferico. El cambio a la termodinamica pone de relieve la legitimidad de una "deuda de carbono," que comienza a hacer tictac con el primer informe del Grupo Intergubernamental de Expertos sobre Cambio Climatico ((IPCC) por sus siglas en ingles) en 1990. A traves del lente de la teoria economica, la intransigencia comprensible de los paises pobres para asumir el "tope" en el "comercio en el derecho de emisiones" es una distorsion del sistema economico. No obstante, acorde con esa misma economia, una distorsion puede justificar otra. Esa otra distorsion es el pago que Ecuador busca por no perforar en la Reserva de la Biosfera Yasuni. Haciendo caso de la llamada de Deirdre (antes Donald) McCloskey de que la economia necesita mas humor, Vogel ha escrito una critica penetrante sobre la economia convencional que a su vez entretiene.

With each species lost to the mass extinction crisis, the natural economy of the nation and of the world is greatly diminished. An endangered animal may hold the cure for cancer; a threatened plant could someday become a major food crop; and even bacteria often provide novel molecular structures in polymer science. As the rainforest is destroyed and habitats are degraded, conservationists are now urgently searching for dramatic new ways to save these economic resources.
In this provocative and important book, Joseph Henry Vogel details one potential solution that has met with increasing interest and popularity: the privatization of genetic information. Vogel cogently makes the case that the world should abandon the doctrine of "the common heritage of mankind" and create private property rights over genes. Landowners, once vested with the genetic resources on their land, will have a newfound financial incentive to protect what they now already control.
Genes for Sale provides an overview of the many complexities inherent in implementing a viable conservation policy. Vogel elaborates both technical issues like the construction of a "gargantuan database" of landtitles and biological inventories, and political issues like legal reform. Clearly written, engaging, and timely, Genes for Sale provides students, scientists, and policy makers alike with the ideal introduction to an exciting and controversial new approach to saving our precious living heritage.