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Patents and Research Investments: Assessing the Empirical Evidence

Author

Listed:
  • Eric Budish
  • Benjamin N. Roin
  • Heidi Williams

Abstract

A well-developed theoretical literature--dating back at least to Nordhaus (1969)--has analyzed optimal patent policy design. We re-present the core trade-off of the Nordhaus model and highlight an empirical question which emerges from the Nordhaus framework as a key input into optimal patent policy design: namely, what is the elasticity of R&D investment with respect to the patent term? We then review the--surprisingly small--body of empirical evidence that has been developed on this question over the nearly half century since the publication of Nordhaus's book.

Suggested Citation

  • Eric Budish & Benjamin N. Roin & Heidi Williams, 2016. "Patents and Research Investments: Assessing the Empirical Evidence," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 106(5), pages 183-187, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:106:y:2016:i:5:p:183-87
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/aer.p20161091
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    Cited by:

    1. Dosi, Giovanni & Palagi, Elisa & Roventini, Andrea & Russo, Emanuele, 2023. "Do patents really foster innovation in the pharmaceutical sector? Results from an evolutionary, agent-based model," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 564-589.
    2. Benslimane, Ismaël & Crosetto, Paolo & Magni-Berton, Raul & Varaine, Simon, 2023. "Intellectual property reform in the laboratory," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 204-221.
    3. Auriol, Emmanuelle & Biancini, Sara & Paillacar, Rodrigo, 2023. "Intellectual property rights protection and trade: An empirical analysis," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    4. Gaétan de Rassenfosse & Ling Zhou, 2025. "Patents and Supra-competitive Prices: Evidence from Consumer Products," Working Papers 29, Chair of Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy.
    5. Gupta, Apoorva & Stiebale, Joel, 2024. "Gains from patent protection: Innovation, market power and cost savings in India," DICE Discussion Papers 414, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics (DICE).
    6. Gaétan de Rassenfosse & Adam B. Jaffe & Joel Waldfogel, 2025. "Intellectual Property and Creative Machines," Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy and the Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 4(1), pages 47-79.
    7. Lifeng Zhang, 2024. "Public expenditure, risk sharing and economic growth," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 92(1), pages 67-89, January.
    8. Glaeser, Stephen & Lang, Mark, 2024. "Measuring innovation and navigating its unique information issues: A review of the accounting literature on innovation," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(2).
    9. Arianna Martinelli & Alessandro Nuvolari & Elisa Palagi & Emanuele Russo, 2022. "Digitalization, copyright and innovation in the creative industries: an agent-based model," LEM Papers Series 2022/03, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    10. Mesoudi, Alex & Jimenez, Angel V & Jensen, Keith & Chang, Lei, 2024. "From information free-riding to information sharing: how have humans solved the cooperative dilemma at the heart of cumulative cultural evolution?," SocArXiv a9zty, Center for Open Science.
    11. Gong, Robin Kaiji & Li, Yao Amber & Manova, Kalina & Sun, Stephen Teng, 2025. "Tickets to the global market: First US patent award and Chinese firm exports," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    12. Zhang, Meiyang & Zhu, Xuezhong & Liu, Rui, 2024. "Patent length and innovation: Novel evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    13. Hu, Mei-Ying & Lu, You-Xun & Lai, Ching-chong, 2023. "Patent term extensions and commercialization lags in the pharmaceutical industry: A growth-theoretic analysis," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    14. Kuroiwa, Kenichi, 2022. "Do stronger intellectual property rights increase patents? Natural experiments in Japan," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322564, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    15. Bhaven N. Sampat, 2018. "A Survey of Empirical Evidence on Patents and Innovation," NBER Working Papers 25383, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    16. Jeanjean, Francois & Lebourges, Marc & Liang, Julienne, 2019. "The impact of license duration on tangible investments of mobile operators," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(9).
    17. Joan Farre‐Mensa & Deepak Hegde & Alexander Ljungqvist, 2020. "What Is a Patent Worth? Evidence from the U.S. Patent “Lottery”," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 75(2), pages 639-682, April.
    18. repec:osf:socarx:a9zty_v1 is not listed on IDEAS

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • D92 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Intertemporal Firm Choice, Investment, Capacity, and Financing
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • 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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