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A simple index of innovation with complexity

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  • José Fernández Donoso

    (School of Business and Economics, Universidad del Desarrollo)

Abstract

Patents are the main source of data on innovation. Since most of the innovative activity happens outside of the patenting system, and since patents –and innovations- have different quality, complexity, and impact on each market, unweighted sums of patents and proxies are a bad indicator of a country’s innovative activity. I generate a very simple index of innovation that weights patents and exports by a complexity measure. Country rankings using this measure are consistent with market size, GDP per capita, and technological development of each country

Suggested Citation

  • José Fernández Donoso, 2016. "A simple index of innovation with complexity," Serie Working Papers 04, Universidad del Desarrollo, School of Business and Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:dsr:wpaper:04
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Shumin Wang & Hao Liu & Yingcheng Li & Mingxing Hu, 2025. "Exploring the innovation potential of urban space at the micro scale: a case study of Suzhou’s main urban area," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Tang, Xuli & Li, Xin & Ding, Ying & Song, Min & Bu, Yi, 2020. "The pace of artificial intelligence innovations: Speed, talent, and trial-and-error," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 14(4).
    3. Trung V. Vu, 2022. "Linking LGBT inclusion and national innovative capacity," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 159(1), pages 191-214, January.
    4. Chen, Yang & Li, Weiwei & Yi, Pingtao, 2020. "Evaluation of city innovation capability using the TOPSIS-based order relation method: The case of Liaoning province, China," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    5. Zhao, Lu-Tao & Liu, Zhao-Ting & Cheng, Lei, 2021. "How will China's coal industry develop in the future? A quantitative analysis with policy implications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    6. José Fernández Donoso & Fernando Hernández, 2017. "International protection of intellectual property rights: a stochastic frontier index," Serie Working Papers 41, Universidad del Desarrollo, School of Business and Economics.
    7. Travis J. Lybbert & Mingzhi Xu, 2022. "Innovation‐adjusted economic complexity and growth: Do patent flows reveal enhanced economic capabilities?," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(1), pages 442-483, February.

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