The significance of intellectual property rights (IPR) has surged in both industrialized nations and emerging economies over the past two decades, particularly following the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). This shift has drawn attention to the economic development of the People's Republic of China (PRC), where IPR has become a focal point for scholars and policymakers. While China has established a legal framework for IPR application and examination, enforcement remains a critical challenge. Academic research on China's IPR system is limited, with notable gaps in the literature. Previous studies have inadequately explored the examination process at the Chinese State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) and the intricate relationship between international trade flows, foreign direct investment, and the patent system's design in China. Johannes Liegsalz's dissertation addresses these issues by posing three specific questions related to this nexus. He employs multivariate econometric methods on data sets specifically compiled for this research. The first chapter focuses on analyzing the duration of the patent examination process at SIPO, shedding light on an essential aspect of China's IPR landscape.
