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The distribution of technological progress

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  • Gianluca Carnabuci

Abstract

The size distribution of the domains of US-patented technological knowledge obeys an exponential law, revealing a disproportionable concentration of progress among larger domains. Our analyses suggest that this phenomenon is explained by a combination of two factors. First, domains’ trajectories of growth have inherently different potentials. Second, differences in domains’ potentials are magnified by a mechanism—domains’ self-hybridization—endogenous to the process of knowledge growth. Our results show that in addition to being stable, the observed distribution of technological progress is likely to arise under very general conditions. Copyright Springer-Verlag 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Gianluca Carnabuci, 2013. "The distribution of technological progress," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 1143-1154, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:empeco:v:44:y:2013:i:3:p:1143-1154
    DOI: 10.1007/s00181-012-0586-0
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    Cited by:

    1. François Lafond & Daniel Kim, 2019. "Long-run dynamics of the U.S. patent classification system," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 29(2), pages 631-664, April.
    2. Balázs Kovács & Gianluca Carnabuci & Filippo Carlo Wezel, 2021. "Categories, attention, and the impact of inventions," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(5), pages 992-1023, May.

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