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Government Transparency and Innovation: Evidence from Wireless Products

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  • v{S}imon Trlifaj

Abstract

Does government transparency affect innovation? I evaluate the launch of a government database with detailed technical information on the universe of wireless-enabled products on the U.S. market (N 347 thousand). The results show the launch approximately doubled the use of new technologies in the following ten years, an indicator of follow-on innovation. The increase affected both products in the same and new product classes, suggesting novelty; waned over several years, potentially due to an increase in secrecy and patenting; and boosted foreign more than U.S. domestic competitors. These results highlight the importance of information for private sector innovation.

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  • v{S}imon Trlifaj, 2025. "Government Transparency and Innovation: Evidence from Wireless Products," Papers 2510.19377, arXiv.org, revised Dec 2025.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:2510.19377
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