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The Paper Trail of Knowledge Spillovers: Evidence from Patent Interferences

Author

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  • Ina Ganguli
  • Jeffrey Lin
  • Nicholas Reynolds

Abstract

We show evidence of localized knowledge spillovers using a new database of US patent interferences terminated between 1998 and 2014. Interferences resulted when two or more independent parties submitted identical claims of invention nearly simultaneously. Following the idea that inventors of identical inventions share common knowledge inputs, interferences provide a new method for measuring knowledge spillovers. Interfering inventors are 1.4 to 4.0 times more likely to live in the same local area than matched control pairs of inventors. They are also more geographically concentrated than citation-linked inventors. Our results emphasize geographic distance as a barrier to tacit knowledge flows.

Suggested Citation

  • Ina Ganguli & Jeffrey Lin & Nicholas Reynolds, 2020. "The Paper Trail of Knowledge Spillovers: Evidence from Patent Interferences," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 12(2), pages 278-302, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejapp:v:12:y:2020:i:2:p:278-302
    DOI: 10.1257/app.20180017
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Sugam Agarwal & Smruti Ranjan Behera, 2022. "Geographical concentration of knowledge and technology-intensive industries in India: empirical evidence from establishment-level analysis," Indian Economic Review, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 513-552, December.
    2. Andrews, Michael J. & Whalley, Alexander, 2022. "150 years of the geography of innovation," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    3. Jennifer Hunt & Iain M. Cockburn & James Bessen, 2024. "Is Distance from Innovation a Barrier to the Adoption of Artificial Intelligence?," NBER Working Papers 33022, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Michael J. Andrews, 2020. "Local Effects of Land Grant Colleges on Agricultural Innovation and Output," NBER Chapters, in: Economics of Research and Innovation in Agriculture, pages 139-175, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Sabrina Di Addario & Zhexin Feng & Michel Serafinelli, 2024. "Inventors’ Coworker Networks and Innovation," CESifo Working Paper Series 11432, CESifo.
    6. William R. Kerr & Frederic Robert-Nicoud, 2020. "Tech Clusters," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 34(3), pages 50-76, Summer.
    7. Michaël Bikard, 2020. "Idea twins: Simultaneous discoveries as a research tool," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(8), pages 1528-1543, August.
    8. Enrico Berkes & Olivier Deschenes & Ruben Gaetani & Jeffrey Lin & Christopher Severen, 2020. "Lockdowns and Innovation: Evidence from the 1918 Flu Pandemic," NBER Working Papers 28152, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    9. Su, Yaqin & Hua, Yue & Deng, Lanfang, 2021. "Agglomeration of human capital: Evidence from city choice of online job seekers in China," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    10. Siwei Cao & Guangrong Ma & Hao Mao, 2024. "Is distance really dying? Transportation and knowledge spillovers," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 64(2), pages 355-405, March.
    11. A‐Sung Hong, 2024. "Beyond the finish line: How losing in patent race drives post‐race innovation," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(5), pages 968-993, May.
    12. Chattergoon, B. & Kerr, W.R., 2022. "Winner takes all? Tech clusters, population centers, and the spatial transformation of U.S. invention," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(2).
    13. Raquel Ortega-Argilés & Pei-Yu Yuan, 2024. "Do UK Research and Collaborations in R&I Promote Economic Prosperity and Levelling-up? An analysis of UKRI funding between 2004-2021," Working Papers 046, The Productivity Institute.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • O34 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital

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