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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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    Cited by:

    1. William R. Kerr & Frederic Robert-Nicoud, 2020. "Tech Clusters," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 34(3), pages 50-76, Summer.
    2. Xionghe Qin & Dong Zhang & Debin Du, 2025. "Understanding the Impact of Spatial Externalities on Two-Stage R&D Efficiency: Empirical Evidence from 285 Chinese Prefecture-Level Cities," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(2), pages 8308-8342, June.
    3. Su, Yaqin & Hua, Yue & Deng, Lanfang, 2021. "Agglomeration of human capital: Evidence from city choice of online job seekers in China," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    4. Sugam Agarwal & Smruti Ranjan Behera, 2022. "Geographical concentration of knowledge and technology-intensive industries in India: empirical evidence from establishment-level analysis," Indian Economic Review, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 513-552, December.
    5. Di Addario, Sabrina & Feng, Zhexin & Serafinelli, Michel, 2024. "Inventors' Coworker Networks and Innovation," IZA Discussion Papers 17398, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Andrews, Michael J. & Whalley, Alexander, 2022. "150 years of the geography of innovation," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    7. Michael J. Andrews, 2020. "Local Effects of Land Grant Colleges on Agricultural Innovation and Output," NBER Chapters, in: Economics of Research and Innovation in Agriculture, pages 139-175, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Hunt, Jennifer & Cockburn, Iain & Bessen, James, 2024. "Is distance from innovation a barrier to the adoption of artificial intelligence," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 126840, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    9. repec:ces:ceswps:_11432 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Siwei Cao & Guangrong Ma & Hao Mao, 2024. "Is distance really dying? Transportation and knowledge spillovers," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 64(2), pages 355-405, March.
    11. A‐Sung Hong, 2024. "Beyond the finish line: How losing in patent race drives post‐race innovation," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(5), pages 968-993, May.
    12. Yuanqi Li & Zhuo Li & Ting Liu, 2024. "Does university-industry collaboration improve firm productivity? Evidence from China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(7), pages 1-19, July.
    13. Zhuolin Li & Lin Guo & Ying Ping, 2024. "Revolutionizing pharmaceutical innovation: Unveiling the impact of endogenous knowledge spillover in China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(9), pages 1-31, September.
    14. Michaël Bikard, 2020. "Idea twins: Simultaneous discoveries as a research tool," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(8), pages 1528-1543, August.
    15. Chattergoon, B. & Kerr, W.R., 2022. "Winner takes all? Tech clusters, population centers, and the spatial transformation of U.S. invention," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(2).
    16. Raquel Ortega-Argilés & Pei-Yu Yuan, 2024. "Do UK Research and Collaborations in R&I Promote Economic Prosperity and Levelling-up? An analysis of UKRI funding between 2004-2021," Working Papers 046, The Productivity Institute.
    17. Gaia Dossi & Marta Morando, 2025. "Polarized Technologies," CEP Discussion Papers dp2116, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    18. Enrico Berkes & Olivier Deschênes & Ruben Gaetani & Jeffrey Lin & Christopher Severen, 2025. "Lockdowns and Innovation: Evidence from the 1918 Flu Pandemic," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 107(3), pages 853-863, May.
    19. Kang, Byeongwoo & Bekkers, Rudi & Ohyama, Atsushi, 2024. "The determinants of parallel invention: Measuring the role of information sharing and personal interaction between inventors," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(10).

    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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