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Friends and Rivals: Modelling the Social Relations of Inventors

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  • Lorenzo Cassi

    (CES, Université Paris 1 – Panthéon-Sorbonne, OST, France; KITeS, Bocconi University, Italy)

  • Lorenzo Zirulia

    (University of Bologna, Italy; KITeS, Bocconi University, Italy; RCEA, Italy)

Abstract

In this chapter we develop a model where a population of inventors is rival in the production of patents. Inventors are embedded in the social space, and this affects the process of knowledge creation and diffusion. Our main contribution to the existing theoretical literature on social networks and knowledge is to introduce explicitly patents and patents' citations. This is interesting per se, and it favours a better comparability of results with those of empirical analysis on the same topic. Results from numerical simulations show that our model is able to replicate the empirical negative relationship between patents' citations and social distance. Furthermore, different social network structures may have an impact on the exact shape of such relationship.

Suggested Citation

  • Lorenzo Cassi & Lorenzo Zirulia, 2012. "Friends and Rivals: Modelling the Social Relations of Inventors," Working Paper series 39_12, Rimini Centre for Economic Analysis.
    • Handle: RePEc:rim:rimwps:39_12
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Joel A. C. Baum & Robin Cowan & Nicolas Jonard, 2010. "Network-Independent Partner Selection and the Evolution of Innovation Networks," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 56(11), pages 2094-2110, November.
    2. Giuliani, Elisa & Bell, Martin, 2005. "The micro-determinants of meso-level learning and innovation: evidence from a Chilean wine cluster," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 47-68, February.
    3. Cowan, R. & Jonard, N., 2003. "The dynamics of collective invention," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 52(4), pages 513-532, December.
    4. Piergiuseppe Morone & Richard Taylor, 2004. "Knowledge diffusion dynamics and network properties of face-to-face interactions," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 327-351, July.
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    6. Franco Malerba & Nicholas S. Vonortas (ed.), 2009. "Innovation Networks in Industries," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 12781.
    7. Stefano Breschi & Francesco Lissoni, 2004. "Knowledge networks from patent data: Methodological issues and research targets," KITeS Working Papers 150, KITeS, Centre for Knowledge, Internationalization and Technology Studies, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy, revised Jan 2004.
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    9. repec:adr:anecst:y:2005:i:79-80:p:08 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Stefano Breschi & Francesco Lissoni, 2010. ""Cross-Firm" Inventors and Social Networks: Localized Knowledge Spillovers Revisited," NBER Chapters, in: Contributions in Memory of Zvi Griliches, pages 189-209, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    11. Piergiuseppe Morone & Richard Taylor, 2010. "Knowledge Diffusion and Innovation," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 13143.
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