Abstract
Multiple dimensions characterize product risk in the pharmaceutical market and involve market functioning and government intervention through private and public law.
The research project we propose jointly considers both the risk associated with consumers' misperceptions that hinder the growth of generic consumption in OECD countries and the risk managed by product liability regulated by EU and European countries’ national laws. The slow growth of the consumption of generic drugs prevents governments from reducing pharmaceutical expenditure, which accounts for an essential share of public spending. Product liability risks may expose firms to risks they cannot control or insure. In some cases, resorting to Government intervention may be necessary for compensation.
The proposed research includes topics related to both applied microeconomics and private law. Furthermore, “law and economics” issues could arise from the interactions between lawyers and economists conducting the proposed research.
The project presented here is aligned with the activities of the Centre for the Analysis and Measurement of Global Risks (Cam-Risk), which is indeed identified as a partner in the project.
The project is characterized by a close correlation between the two lines of research. For the sole purpose of facilitating understanding and evaluation of the project, italics will be used in the following sections to highlight aspects related specifically to the two lines of research.
Research unit
Prof. Alberto Cavaliere: coordinator of the applied microeconomics group
Prof. Francesco Scervini is an associate professor at the Department of Political and Social Sciences, University of Pavia; he has built a database on the education levels across European countries and has much experience in empirical economic research and applied econometrics.
Daria Vigani, Ph. D., has just been awarded a post-doc position at the Department of Economics and Management. She has extensive experience in empirical economic research and applied econometrics.
Prof. Matteo Dellacasa: corresponding researcher and coordinator of the research group studying defective product liability
Prof. Giovanni Stella: associated with the Department of Law, University of Pavia
Both professors have prior publications concerning defective product liability
The law study group also includes two Ph.D. students: Virginia Fusco, who is conducting her doctoral dissertation on drug manufacturer liability, and Erika Manazza. Additionally, the group includes Giustino Verì, a lawyer with several publications to his credit.