Patents and Innovation in Economic History

Abstract

A strong tradition in economic history, which primarily relies on qualitative evidence and statistical correlations, has emphasized the importance of patents as a primary driver of innovation. Recent improvements in empirical methodology -through the creation of new data sets and advances in identificationhave produced research that challenges this traditional view. The findings of this literature provide a more nuanced view of the effects of intellectual property, and suggest that when patent rights have been too broad or strong, they have actually discouraged innovation. This paper summarizes the major results from this research and presents open questions. Abstract: A strong tradition in economic history, which primarily relies on qualitative evidence and statistical correlations, has emphasized the importance of patents as a primary driver of innovation. Recent improvements in empirical methodology -through the creation of new data sets and advances in identification -have produced research that challenges this traditional view. The findings of this literature provide a more nuanced view of the effects of intellectual property, and suggest that when patent rights have been too broad or strong, they have actually discouraged innovation. This paper summarizes the major results from this research and presents open questions.

The Dependence of Patents From R&D Outlays and R&D Employees in European Union Countries

“…The application of patents changes in time through the development of industries in the countries concerned. This indicates the directions of technical/technological modifications [14]. In small enterprises in European countries, external funding is related to the rights to patents, whilst the novelty of patents is noted to a lesser degree [15].…”

Does piracy lead to product abandonment or stimulate new product development?: Evidence from mobile platform‐based developer firms

“…However, whether property rights actually incentivize innovation is hotly debated. For instance, there is evidence from historical policy changes that property rights incentivize innovation (MacGarvie & Moser, 2015;Moser, 2005Moser, , 2013, but there is also evidence that these effects are somewhat more modest than the theoretical characterization of property rights (Lerner, 2009;Sakakibara & Branstetter, 2001). Similarly, there have been are numerous instances in which innovation was widespread, yet property rights such as patents and copyrights are only weakly enforceable (Cockburn & MacGarvie, 2009Cohen & Lemley, 2001;Graham, Merges, Samuelson, & Sichelman, 2009).…”

Bi̇lgi̇ Odakli Ekonomi̇k Büyüme Yaklaşiminin Ampi̇ri̇k Anali̇zi̇: Türki̇ye Örneği̇

“…Bilgi ekonomisinin önemli unsurları arasında yer alan Ar-Ge faaliyetleri ve inovasyon, bilişim teknolojileri, patent ve diğer fikri-sınai mülkiyet hakları ile ekonomi arasındaki ilişki teorik ve ampirik literatürde araştırılan önemli konular olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır (Griliches, 1990;Jones, 1995;Gould & Gruben, 1996;Park & Ginarte, 1997;Rogers, 1999;Jones & Williams (2000); Singh, 2006;Zeira, 2011;Hu & Png, 2013;Moser, 2016).…”