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The patterns of patents in China

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  • Zhuan Xie
  • Xiaobo Zhang

Abstract

Innovations are a key driver of long-term economic growth. There has been an explosion of patent filings in China in the past three decades. But empirical studies on the pattern of innovations at the firm level are rather scant primarily due to lack of firm-specific patent data. We have made concerted efforts to match Chinese patent data with a large firm-level database. The matched dataset enables us to examine the patterns of patents at the firm level. Our analysis has revealed several interesting patterns: (1) domestic firms have become increasingly more innovative in terms of patent application; (2) private firms, rather than state-owned enterprises, have been the engine of innovation; (3) rising wages have propelled labor-intensive sectors to become more innovative; and (4) in response to increasing sex ratio imbalances, firms in female-intensive industries have exhibited more innovations than those in male-intensive industries.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhuan Xie & Xiaobo Zhang, 2015. "The patterns of patents in China," China Economic Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(2), pages 122-142, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rcejxx:v:8:y:2015:i:2:p:122-142
    DOI: 10.1080/17538963.2015.1046219
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    Cited by:

    1. Hu, Albert G.Z. & Zhang, Peng & Zhao, Lijing, 2017. "China as number one? Evidence from China's most recent patenting surge," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 107-119.
    2. Justin Yifu Lin & Fan Zhang, 2015. "Sustaining Growth of the People's Republic of China," Asian Development Review, MIT Press, vol. 32(1), pages 31-48, March.
    3. Zhijiu Yang & Mengxu Li, 2024. "Escaping the resource curse: does resource dependence reduction mitigate income inequality?," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Cheng, Wenyin & Meng, Bo & Gao, Yuning & Dollar, David, 2024. "The paradox of decelerated technology importation and accelerated innovation in China: Insights from national technology development zones," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    5. Xu Wang & Xiaobo Zhang & Zhuan Xie & Huang Yiping, 2016. "Roads to Innovation: Firm-Level Evidence from China," Working Papers id:11121, eSocialSciences.
    6. Pan, Xia & Cheng, Wenyin & Gao, Yuning, 2022. "The impact of privatization of state-owned enterprises on innovation in China: A tale of privatization degree," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    7. Chen, Xiaowei & Hu, Zhilin & Lin, Liguo, 2025. "Safety regulations and firm productivity," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    8. Xia Pan & Yuning Gao & Dong Guo & Wenyin Cheng, 2020. "Does Higher Education Promote Firm Innovation in China?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-14, September.
    9. Zhang, Yiran, 2021. "Technology Market Frictions and Economic Development: Evidence from China," MPRA Paper 122159, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 21 Sep 2024.
    10. Min Zhang & Xiaochen Zhang, 2026. "Does population aging hinder regional innovation? A perspective on complementarity and substitution effects," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 75(1), pages 1-28, March.
    11. Jun Wang & Congcong Liu & Zhuan Xie & Guangjun Shen, 2024. "Tax incentives and corporate innovation: Evidence from China's value‐added tax reform," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 42(1), pages 183-202, January.
    12. Yang, Chih-Hai, 2025. "Overseas patenting and exports: Does patenting in China work?," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    13. Nie, Liang & Zhang, ZhongXiang, 2023. "Is high-speed rail heading towards a low-carbon industry? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    14. Hui Wang & Lin Zhu, 2025. "Technological Innovation, Industrial Structure Upgrading, and the Coordinated Development of Regional Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-23, September.

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