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Collaboration and Connectivity: Historical Evidence from Patent Records

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  • Berger, Thor
  • Prawitz, Erik

Abstract

Why has collaboration become increasingly central to technological progress? We document the role of lowered travel costs by combining patent data with the rollout of the Swedish railroad network in the 19th and early-20th century. Inventors that gain access to the network are more likely to produce collaborative patents, which is partly driven by long-distance collaborations with other inventors residing along the emerging railroad network. These results suggest that the declining costs of interacting with others is fundamental to account for the long-term increase in inventive collaboration.

Suggested Citation

  • Berger, Thor & Prawitz, Erik, 2023. "Collaboration and Connectivity: Historical Evidence from Patent Records," CEPR Discussion Papers 18031, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:18031
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    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Yamasaki, Junichi, 2025. "Railroads and technology adoption in Meiji Japan," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    3. Benedict S. Jimenez & Laiyang Ke & Minji Hong, 2025. "Mayoral partisanship and municipal fiscal health," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 203(1), pages 157-181, April.
    4. Li, Lei & Liu, Bocong & Sheng, Bin & Wang, Tianyu, 2025. "“A tale of two rails”: Transportation infrastructure and technological spillovers from R&D center foreign firms," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    5. Hunt, Jennifer & Cockburn, Iain & Bessen, James, 2024. "Is distance from innovation a barrier to the adoption of artificial intelligence," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 126840, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    6. Mehic, Adrian, 2024. "Infrastructure Expansion, Tourism, and Electoral Outcomes," Working Paper Series 1490, Research Institute of Industrial Economics.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • L91 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Transportation: General

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