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Financial Disruptions and the Organization of Innovation: Evidence from the Great Depression

Author

Listed:
  • Tania Babina
  • Asaf Bernstein
  • Filippo Mezzanotti
  • Holger Mueller

Abstract

We examine innovation following the Great Depression using data on a century’s worth of U.S. patents and a difference-in-differences design that exploits regional variation in the crisis severity. Harder-hit areas experienced large and persistent declines in independent patenting, mostly reflecting the disruption in access to finance during the crisis. This decline was larger for young and inexperienced inventors and lower-quality patents. In contrast, innovation by large firms increased, especially among young and inexperienced inventors. Overall, the Great Depression contributed to the decline in technological entrepreneurship and accelerated the shift of innovation into larger firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Tania Babina & Asaf Bernstein & Filippo Mezzanotti & Holger Mueller, 2023. "Financial Disruptions and the Organization of Innovation: Evidence from the Great Depression," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 36(11), pages 4271-4317.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:rfinst:v:36:y:2023:i:11:p:4271-4317.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/rfs/hhad023
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G01 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Financial Crises
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • N12 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - U.S.; Canada: 1913-
    • N22 - Economic History - - Financial Markets and Institutions - - - U.S.; Canada: 1913-
    • N32 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - U.S.; Canada: 1913-

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