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Inventor Gender and the Direction of Invention

Author

Listed:
  • Rembrand Koning
  • Sampsa Samila
  • John-Paul Ferguson

Abstract

We study whether increasing the share of female inventors leads to more biomedical inventions that focus on the needs of women. After accounting for detailed disease-technology, disease-year, and technology-year fixed effects, we find that a 10 percentage point increase in the share of female inventors in a research area yields 1.2 percentage points more female-focused patents. Notably, this effect only holds for female-led invention teams. Areas with a greater share of female inventors in supporting roles do not produce more female-focused inventions. For gender to impact the direction of invention, it appears that women must occupy positions of power.

Suggested Citation

  • Rembrand Koning & Sampsa Samila & John-Paul Ferguson, 2020. "Inventor Gender and the Direction of Invention," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 110, pages 250-254, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:apandp:v:110:y:2020:p:250-54
    DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20201045
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Eleanor Wiske Dillon, 2020. "Comment on Education and Innovation," NBER Chapters, in: The Role of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Economic Growth, pages 551-557, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Mercedes Delgado & Fiona Murray, 2021. "Mapping the Regions, Organizations and Individuals That Drive Inclusion in the Innovation Economy," NBER Chapters, in: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy and the Economy, volume 1, pages 67-101, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • 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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