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Patent Policy and Economic Growth: A Survey

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  • Chu, Angus C.

Abstract

This survey provides a selective review of the literature on patent policy, innovation and economic growth. The patent system is a useful policy tool for stimulating innovation given its importance on technological progress and economic growth. However, the patent system is a multi-dimensional system, which features multiple patent policy instruments. In this survey, we review some of the commonly discussed patent policy instruments, such as patent length, patent breadth and blocking patents, and also use a canonical Schumpeterian growth model to demonstrate their different effects on innovation and the macroeconomy.

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  • Chu, Angus C., 2020. "Patent Policy and Economic Growth: A Survey," MPRA Paper 103643, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:103643
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    3. Noda, Hideo & Fang, Fengqi, 2025. "Pro-Patent Policy in the Knowledge-Based Economy," MPRA Paper 125646, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Chandril Bhattacharyya & Dibyendu Maiti, 2023. "Informal Sector, Innovation and Growth," Working papers 334, Centre for Development Economics, Delhi School of Economics.
    5. Heng‐Chuan Kao & Hsiao‐Wen Hung, 2024. "Patent protection, externalities, and income inequality," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 92(5), pages 466-493, September.
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    7. Uche, Emmanuel & Ngepah, Nicholas & Onwe, Joshua Chukwuma & Zaman, Umer & Odhiambo, Nicholas M., 2024. "A question for sustainable development goal 10: How relevant is innovation patenting receipts to income distributions?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    8. Chu, Angus C. & Liao, Chih-Hsing, 2025. "Optimal patent policy and wealth inequality in a Schumpeterian economy," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    9. Chu, Angus C. & Peretto, Pietro F. & Wang, Xilin, 2022. "Agricultural revolution and industrialization," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
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    12. Ohki, Kazuyoshi, 2025. "Incremental Innovation by Heterogeneous Incumbents and Economic Growth: relationship between two sources of growth," MPRA Paper 124304, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    JEL classification:

    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • O4 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity

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