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Trademarks as an indicator of regional innovation: evidence from Japanese prefectures

Author

Listed:
  • Jörn Block
  • Christian Fisch
  • Kenta Ikeuchi
  • Masatoshi Kato

Abstract

Regional science has long been concerned with measuring the spatial distribution of innovation activity. We introduce trademarks as a new indicator for regional innovation and argue that they are particularly useful to measure the ‘soft’ side of innovation that is difficult to capture with conventional indicators. We explore the spatial distribution of trademarks using a detailed and comprehensive dataset of 47 Japanese prefectures from 1999 to 2012. In addition to mapping differences in trademarking across regions, we identify correlates at the regional level that provide insights into determinants of regional innovation measured via trademarks. For example, regional trademark activity positively correlates with population density, income per capita, entrepreneurship rate, the number of universities, and strong private service and finance sectors. Overall, the results reveal associations unique to trademarks that other measures of innovation cannot uncover. Our findings contribute to research in regional science and the evolving literature on trademarks.

Suggested Citation

  • Jörn Block & Christian Fisch & Kenta Ikeuchi & Masatoshi Kato, 2022. "Trademarks as an indicator of regional innovation: evidence from Japanese prefectures," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(2), pages 190-209, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:regstd:v:56:y:2022:i:2:p:190-209
    DOI: 10.1080/00343404.2021.1887843
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Carolina Castaldi & Sandro Mendonca, 2021. "Regions and trademarks. Research opportunities and policy insights from leveraging trademarks in regional innovation studies," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2138, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Dec 2021.
    2. repec:osf:socarx:nftv3_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Leogrande, Angelo & Drago, Carlo & Mallardi, Giulio & Costantiello, Alberto & Magaletti, Nicola, 2024. "Patenting Propensity in Italy: A Machine Learning Approach to Regional Clustering," MPRA Paper 123081, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Barra, Cristian, 2025. "Does inefficiency of judicial system matter on financial development-entrepreneurship nexus? New evidence on the worldwide level," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 134.
    5. Crosby, Lawrence A. & Ghanbarpour, Tohid, 2023. "The Drucker intangibles measurement system: An academic perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 155(PB).
    6. Yuxuan Ma & Lei Wang & Di Hu & Yaoqing Ge & Junzhu Zuo & Tian Lan, 2023. "Analysis of spatial patterns of technological innovation capability based on patent data in Jiangsu province, China," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    7. El¿bieta Roszko-Wójtowicz & Barbara Dañska-Borsiak & Maria M. Grzelak & Aleksandra Pleœniarska, 2022. "In search of key determinants of innovativeness in the regions of the Visegrad group countries," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 13(4), pages 1015-1045, December.
    8. Carolina Castaldi, 2024. "The geography of urban innovation beyond patents only: New evidence on large and secondary cities in the United States," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 61(7), pages 1248-1272, May.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • L80 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - General
    • O34 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)

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