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Measuring patent quality in cross-country comparison

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  • Boeing, Philipp
  • Mueller, Elisabeth

Abstract

Our novel quality index is based on citations from international search reports and provides internationally comparable, quality-adjusted figures for applications made under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). We show that China’s recent patent expansion has taken place to the detriment of patent quality. Weighting national PCT counts with our index reveals a widening gap between the technological capacities of China and the leading USA.

Suggested Citation

  • Boeing, Philipp & Mueller, Elisabeth, 2016. "Measuring patent quality in cross-country comparison," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 145-147.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:149:y:2016:i:c:p:145-147
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2016.10.039
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Lin William Cong & Sabrina T. Howell, 2021. "Policy Uncertainty and Innovation: Evidence from Initial Public Offering Interventions in China," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(11), pages 7238-7261, November.
    2. Armin Mertens & Marc Scheufen, 2024. "Intellectual property and fourth industrial revolution technologies: how the patent system is shaping the future in the data-driven economy," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 275-310, April.
    3. David Autor & David Dorn & Gordon H. Hanson & Gary Pisano & Pian Shu, 2020. "Foreign Competition and Domestic Innovation: Evidence from US Patents," American Economic Review: Insights, American Economic Association, vol. 2(3), pages 357-374, September.
    4. Rong, Zhao & Wu, Xiaokai & Boeing, Philipp, 2017. "The effect of institutional ownership on firm innovation: Evidence from Chinese listed firms," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(9), pages 1533-1551.
    5. Christian Fisch & Jörn Block & Philipp Sandner, 2019. "The impact of acquisitions on Chinese acquirers’ innovation performance: an empirical investigation of 1545 Chinese acquisitions," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 89(2), pages 125-153, March.
    6. Mueller, Elisabeth & Boeing, Philipp, 2024. "Global influence of inventions and technology sovereignty," ZEW Discussion Papers 24-024, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research, revised 2024.
    7. Boeing, Philipp & Mueller, Elisabeth, 2019. "Measuring China's patent quality: Development and validation of ISR indices," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    8. Cheng, Hong & Fan, Hanbing & Hoshi, Takeo & Hu, Dezhuang, 2024. "State ownership, political connection, and innovation subsidies in China," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    9. Boeing, Philipp, 2020. "Innovative China: R&D subsidies, patent measures, and productivity," ZEW Expert Briefs 20-15, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    10. Rong, Zhao & Wu, Binzhen, 2020. "Scientific personnel reallocation and firm innovation: Evidence from China’s college expansion," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(3), pages 709-728.
    11. Boeing, Philipp & Hünermund, Paul, 2020. "A global decline in research productivity? Evidence from China and Germany," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    12. Tan, Yafei & Zhu, Zhaohui, 2022. "The effect of ESG rating events on corporate green innovation in China: The mediating role of financial constraints and managers' environmental awareness," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    13. Gaétan de Rassenfosse & Reza Hosseini, 2020. "Discrimination against foreigners in the U.S. patent system," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 3(4), pages 349-366, December.
    14. Nam, Ji-Hyun & Lee, Sun-Jae & Park, Sung-Pil & Lee, Il-Gu, 2023. "IP dLedger - Decentralized ledger for intellectual property administration," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 186(PA).
    15. Clò, Stefano & Florio, Massimo & Rentocchini, Francesco, 2020. "Firm ownership, quality of government and innovation: Evidence from patenting in the telecommunication industry," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(5).
    16. Proksch, Dorian & Busch-Casler, Julia & Haberstroh, Marcus Max & Pinkwart, Andreas, 2019. "National health innovation systems: Clustering the OECD countries by innovative output in healthcare using a multi indicator approach," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 169-179.
    17. Gaétan de Rassenfosse & Reza Hosseini, 0. "Discrimination against foreigners in the U.S. patent system," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 0, pages 1-18.
    18. Naubahar Sharif, 2018. "To License or Sell: A Study on the Patent Transaction Modes in China," HKUST IEMS Working Paper Series 2018-51, HKUST Institute for Emerging Market Studies, revised Jan 2018.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Patent quality; Cross-country comparison;

    JEL classification:

    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • 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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