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Agglomeration of Invention in the Bay Area: Not Just ICT

Author

Listed:
  • Chris Forman
  • Avi Goldfarb
  • Shane Greenstein

Abstract

We document that the Bay Area rose from 4% of all successful US patent applications in 1976 to 16% in 2008. This is partly driven by the increase in the prevalence of information and communication technology; however, even for patents unrelated to information and communication technology, we see a disproportionate increase in the share of US patents from the Bay Area. We interpret this growth as a trend to coagglomeration in invention across technologies, and explore different dimensions of this trend.

Suggested Citation

  • Chris Forman & Avi Goldfarb & Shane Greenstein, 2016. "Agglomeration of Invention in the Bay Area: Not Just ICT," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 106(5), pages 146-151, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:106:y:2016:i:5:p:146-51
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/aer.p20161018
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. James Bessen & Robert M. Hunt, 2007. "An Empirical Look at Software Patents," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 16(1), pages 157-189, March.
    2. Ashish Arora & Lee G. Branstetter & Matej Drev, 2013. "Going Soft: How the Rise of Software-Based Innovation Led to the Decline of Japan's IT Industry and the Resurgence of Silicon Valley," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 95(3), pages 757-775, July.
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    Cited by:

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    3. Zhang, Jinning & Liu, Xinyu & Lyu, Yanwei, 2024. "Exploring innovative digital strategies for sustainable development: Addressing challenges of mineral resource scarcity," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    4. Jorge Guzman & Fiona Murray & Scott Stern & Heidi Williams, 2024. "Accelerating Innovation Ecosystems: The Promise and Challenges of Regional Innovation Engines," Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy and the Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 3(1), pages 9-75.
    5. Rammer, Christian & Kinne, Jan & Blind, Knut, 2016. "Microgeography of innovation in the city: Location patterns of innovative firms in Berlin," ZEW Discussion Papers 16-080, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
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    7. Georg von Graevenitz & Stuart J. H. Graham & Amanda F. Myers, 2022. "Distance (still) hampers diffusion of innovations," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(2), pages 227-241, February.
    8. Christian Rammer & Jan Kinne & Knut Blind, 2020. "Knowledge proximity and firm innovation: A microgeographic analysis for Berlin," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 57(5), pages 996-1014, April.
    9. Koutroumpis, Pantelis & Leiponen, Aija & Thomas, Llewellyn D W, 2017. "Invention Machines: How Control Instruments and Information Technologies Drove Global Technologigal Progress over a Century of Invention," ETLA Working Papers 52, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
    10. Georg von Graevenitz & Stuart J. H. Graham & Amanda Myers, 2019. "Distance (Still) Hampers Diffusion of Innovations," Working Paper series, University of East Anglia, Centre for Competition Policy (CCP) 2019-05, Centre for Competition Policy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK..
    11. Inggrid & Budy P. Resosudarmo, 2024. "Can air traffic booms induce innovation and bridge regional innovation gaps?," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 73(4), pages 1757-1781, December.
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    13. Richard Florida & Karen M. King, 2018. "Urban Start-up Districts: Mapping Venture Capital and Start-up Activity Across ZIP Codes," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 32(2), pages 99-118, May.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • L63 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Microelectronics; Computers; Communications Equipment
    • L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
    • R32 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - Other Spatial Production and Pricing Analysis

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