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Localized Knowledge Spillovers and Patent Citations: A Distance-Based Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Yasusada Murata

    (Advanced Research Institute for the Sciences and the Humanities, Nihon University)

  • Ryo Nakajima

    (Keio University)

  • Ryosuke Okamoto

    (National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies)

  • Ryuichi Tamura

    (Institute of Innovation Research, Hitotsubashi University)

Abstract

We develop a new distance-based test of localized knowledge spillovers that embeds the concept of control patents. Using microgeographic data, we identify localization distance for each technology class while allowing for spillovers across geographic units. We revisit the debate between Thompson and Fox-Kean (2005a, 2005b) and Henderson, Jaffe, and Trajtenberg (2005) on the existence of localized knowledge spillovers and find solid evidence supporting localization even when using finely grained controls. Unless biases induced by imperfect matching between citing and control patents due to unobserved heterogeneity are extremely large, our distance-based test detects localization for the majority of technology classes.

Suggested Citation

  • Yasusada Murata & Ryo Nakajima & Ryosuke Okamoto & Ryuichi Tamura, 2014. "Localized Knowledge Spillovers and Patent Citations: A Distance-Based Approach," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 96(5), pages 967-985, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:restat:v:96:y:2014:i:5:p:967-985
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    localized knowledge spillovers; patent citation; distance-based tests;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)

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