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Inventor mobility and productivity: a long-run perspective

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  • Frank van der Wouden
  • David L. Rigby

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to explore the influence of mobility on inventor productivity. Unlike most previous literature in this field, we separate the impact of firm mobility from geographical mobility. Our paper is also novel because of the long period of investigation. We report how the different forms of mobility, and their impacts, have changed over the period 1836–1975 using US patent data. Mobility is identified for serial inventors who change assignee and/or location over time. Firm mobility and geographical mobility increase throughout the period examined, with only temporary reversals around the Great Depression and Second World War. Comparisons across matched samples of mobile and immobile inventors reveal that firm mobility and spatial mobility raise the patent productivity of inventors, the former having the largest impact. Inventor productivity increases for up to 15 years following a mobility event, suggesting a process of adjustment after a move.

Suggested Citation

  • Frank van der Wouden & David L. Rigby, 2021. "Inventor mobility and productivity: a long-run perspective," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(6), pages 677-703, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:indinn:v:28:y:2021:i:6:p:677-703
    DOI: 10.1080/13662716.2020.1789451
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    Cited by:

    1. Cohle, Zachary & Ortega, Alberto, 2023. "The effect of the opioid crisis on patenting," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 493-521.
    2. Taiye Luo & Zhengang Zhang, 2021. "Multi-network embeddedness and innovation performance of R&D employees," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(9), pages 8091-8107, September.
    3. Breithaupt, Patrick & Hottenrott, Hanna & Rammer, Christian & Römer, Konstantin, 2023. "Mapping employee mobility and employer networks using professional network data," ZEW Discussion Papers 23-041, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.

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