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Cassatts in the Attic: Is There a Gender Gap in the Commercialization of Science?

Author

Listed:
  • Marlène Koffi
  • Matt Marx

Abstract

We analyze nearly 70 million scientific articles to estimate the gender dynamics in the commercialization of science. We report a gender gap of 14 percent, which does not appear to be explained either by the quality of the science or by its commercial potential. The gap is widest among papers with female last authors (i.e., lab head or principal investigator), even when publishing high-quality science. However, the gap vanishes when authors self-commercialize discoveries via new ventures, and the gap is reduced when commercializing in cooperation with firms that are smaller or that have more female inventors.

Suggested Citation

  • Marlène Koffi & Matt Marx, 2026. "Cassatts in the Attic: Is There a Gender Gap in the Commercialization of Science?," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 18(2), pages 266-298, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejapp:v:18:y:2026:i:2:p:266-98
    DOI: 10.1257/app.20230325
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • 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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