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Departure And Promotion Of U.S. Patent Examiners: Do Patent Characteristics Matter?

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  • Corinne Langinier
  • Stéphanie Lluis

Abstract

Using U.S. patent data, we wonder how examiners' career outcomes relate to aspects of the patenting process. We exploit longitudinal information about patents granted by a group of examiners between 1976 and 2006 and their yearly mobility between 1992 and 2006. We find consistent evidence from static, dynamic, and duration models of the importance of granting experience in specific technological fields, repeated interactions with the same inventor, and self‐citations in predicting departure or promotion. We find a positive (negative) association between self‐citation and likelihood of turnover (promotion) and a positive (negative) correlation between interaction with high (low) innovation firms and likelihood of turnover (promotion). (JEL J60, O34, M51)

Suggested Citation

  • Corinne Langinier & Stéphanie Lluis, 2021. "Departure And Promotion Of U.S. Patent Examiners: Do Patent Characteristics Matter?," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 39(2), pages 416-434, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:coecpo:v:39:y:2021:i:2:p:416-434
    DOI: 10.1111/coep.12497
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    1. Corinne Langinier & Philippe Marcoul, 2019. "Subjective performance of patent examiners, implicit contracts, and self‐funded patent offices," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(3), pages 251-266, April.

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    JEL classification:

    • J60 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - General
    • O34 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital

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