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Trade secrets laws and technology spillovers

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  • Wang, Yanzhi

Abstract

This article examines whether and to what extent the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA) affects technology spillovers between focal firms (i.e., receivers of spillovers) and peers (i.e., senders of spillovers). I find that technology spillovers from peers located in states adopting the UTSA are 27 % to 51 % lower than technology spillovers from peers located in states not adopting the UTSA. Focal firms whose peers come from the UTSA states have fewer migrant inventors than firms whose peers come from non-UTSA states.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Yanzhi, 2023. "Trade secrets laws and technology spillovers," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(7).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:respol:v:52:y:2023:i:7:s0048733323000781
    DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2023.104794
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Technology spillovers; R&D spillovers; Trade secrets laws; UTSA;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy
    • K22 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Business and Securities Law
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies

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