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Are Inventors or Firms the Engines of Innovation?

Author

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  • Ajay Bhaskarabhatla

    (Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus University, 3062 PA Rotterdam, Netherlands)

  • Luis Cabral

    (Stern School of Business, New York University, New York, New York 10012)

  • Deepak Hegde

    (Stern School of Business, New York University, New York, New York 10012)

  • Thomas Peeters

    (Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus University, 3062 PA Rotterdam, Netherlands)

Abstract

In this study, we empirically assess the contributions of inventors and firms for innovation using a 37-year panel of U.S. patenting activity. We estimate that inventors’ human capital is 5–10 times more important than firm capabilities for explaining the variance in inventor output. We then examine matching between inventors and firms and find highly talented inventors are attracted to firms that (i) have weak firm-specific invention capabilities and (ii) employ other talented inventors. A theoretical model that incorporates worker preferences for inventive output rationalizes our empirical findings of negative assortative matching between inventors and firms and positive assortative matching among inventors.

Suggested Citation

  • Ajay Bhaskarabhatla & Luis Cabral & Deepak Hegde & Thomas Peeters, 2021. "Are Inventors or Firms the Engines of Innovation?," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(6), pages 3899-3920, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:67:y:2021:i:6:p:3899-3920
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.2020.3646
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    2. Paul Hunermund & Ann Hipp, 2024. "Inventor Mobility After the Fall of the Berlin Wall," Papers 2409.01861, arXiv.org.
    3. Meng, Zhu & Zhu, Ning & Zhang, Guowei & Yang, Yuance & Liu, Zhaocai & Ke, Ginger Y., 2024. "Data-driven drone pre-positioning for traffic accident rapid assessment," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    4. Liu, Tong & Mao, Yifei & Tian, Xuan, 2023. "The role of human capital: Evidence from corporate innovation," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    5. Liu, Guanchun & Lu, Di & Yang, Jinyu, 2023. "Innovation for promotion: The effect of executive involvement on inventors' innovation choice," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    6. Cavalcanti, T. & Mohaddes, K. & Nian, H. & Yin, H., 2024. "How Air Pollution Makes Firms Less Innovative: Human Capital and Adaptive Strategies," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 2466, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    7. Cui, Jingbo & Huang, Shaoqing & Wang, Chunhua, 2023. "The impact of air quality on innovation activities in China," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    8. Gao, Lei & Han, Jianlei & Pan, Zheyao & Zhang, Huixuan, 2023. "Individualistic CEO and corporate innovation: Evidence from U.S. frontier culture," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(9).
    9. Huang, Yongjian & Ren, Zhaoyue & Zhang, Hongwei & Wen, Pengxiang & Li, Zhouyang, 2024. "Tax incentives for key employees and corporate innovation," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 238(C).
    10. Xun Wang & Jingwen Yu, 2023. "Accumulating human capital: Corporate innovation and firm value," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 23(4), pages 750-776, December.

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