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Demand Shocks, Procurement Policies, and the Nature of Medical Innovation: Evidence from Wartime Prosthetic Device Patents

Author

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  • Jeffrey Clemens

    (University of California at San Diego)

  • Parker Rogers

    (University of California at San Diego)

Abstract

We show that the demand shocks associated with the U.S. Civil War and World War I led to substantial increases in prosthetic device patenting (relative to patenting in other medical and mechanical technology classes). Through analyses of patent texts, we find that the Civil War led inventors to focus on production process improvements, while World War I did not. Further, we find that inventors emphasized dimensions of product quality that aligned with differences in buyers' preferences across wars. Alongside evidence from the historical record, these findings imply that procurement environments can significantly shape the scientific problems with which inventors engage.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeffrey Clemens & Parker Rogers, 2026. "Demand Shocks, Procurement Policies, and the Nature of Medical Innovation: Evidence from Wartime Prosthetic Device Patents," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 108(1), pages 75-89, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:restat:v:108:y:2026:i:1:p:75-89
    DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_01365
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