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Why are women underrepresented amongst patentees?

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  • Hunt, Jennifer
  • Garant, Jean-Philippe
  • Herman, Hannah
  • Munroe, David J.

Abstract

We investigate women's underrepresentation among holders of commercialized patents: only 5.5% of holders of such patents are female. Using the National Survey of College Graduates 2003, we find only 7% of the gap in patenting rates is accounted for by women's lower probability of holding any science or engineering degree, because women with such a degree are scarcely more likely to patent than women without. Differences among those without a science or engineering degree account for 15%, while 78% is accounted for by differences among those with a science or engineering degree. For the latter group, we find that women's underrepresentation in engineering and in jobs involving development and design explain much of the gap.

Suggested Citation

  • Hunt, Jennifer & Garant, Jean-Philippe & Herman, Hannah & Munroe, David J., 2013. "Why are women underrepresented amongst patentees?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(4), pages 831-843.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:respol:v:42:y:2013:i:4:p:831-843
    DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2012.11.004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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