Volume 1 explores the the role that economic incentives play in promoting innovation and creativity. It also examines the analogy between intellectual property and tangible property, the economics of intellectual property institutions, and the interplay of intellectual property, development, and international trade.

Volume 2 explores analytical methods used to study intellectual property law. The chapters survey data sources, the use of patent citation data, patent valuation, empirical studies of intellectual property modalities (patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secrets) and institutions, the impacts of technological change on technology and content industries, the use of experimental methods, economic history research, political economy, and knowledge commons research.