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The Paper Trail of Knowledge Spillovers: Evidence from Patent Interferences

Author

Listed:
  • Ina Ganguli
  • Jeffrey Lin
  • Nicholas Reynolds

Abstract

We show evidence of localized knowledge spillovers using a new database of US patent interferences terminated between 1998 and 2014. Interferences resulted when two or more independent parties submitted identical claims of invention nearly simultaneously. Following the idea that inventors of identical inventions share common knowledge inputs, interferences provide a new method for measuring knowledge spillovers. Interfering inventors are 1.4 to 4.0 times more likely to live in the same local area than matched control pairs of inventors. They are also more geographically concentrated than citation-linked inventors. Our results emphasize geographic distance as a barrier to tacit knowledge flows.

Suggested Citation

  • Ina Ganguli & Jeffrey Lin & Nicholas Reynolds, 2020. "The Paper Trail of Knowledge Spillovers: Evidence from Patent Interferences," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 12(2), pages 278-302, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejapp:v:12:y:2020:i:2:p:278-302
    DOI: 10.1257/app.20180017
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • 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
    • 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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