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The research university, invention and industry: evidence from German history

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  • Jeremiah Dittmar
  • Ralph R. Meisenzahl

Abstract

We examine the role of universities in knowledge production and industrial change using historical evidence. Political shocks led to a profound pro-science shift in German universities around 1800. To study the consequences, we construct novel microdata. We find that invention and manufacturing developed similarly in cities closer to and farther from universities in the 1700s and shifted towards universities and accelerated in the early 1800s. The shift in manufacturing was strongest in new and high knowledge industries. After 1800, the adoption of mechanized technology and the number and share of firms winning international awards for innovation were higher near universities.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeremiah Dittmar & Ralph R. Meisenzahl, 2022. "The research university, invention and industry: evidence from German history," CEP Discussion Papers dp1856, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp1856
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Andreas Link, 2023. "The Fall of Constantinople and the Rise of the West," Working Papers 223, Bavarian Graduate Program in Economics (BGPE).
    2. Paolo Buonanno & Francesco Cinnirella & Elona Harka & Marcello Puca, 2024. "Books Go Public: The Consequences of the Expropriation of Monastic Libraries on Innovation," CESifo Working Paper Series 11015, CESifo.
    3. Link, Andreas, 2023. "The Fall of Constantinople and the Rise of the West," VfS Annual Conference 2023 (Regensburg): Growth and the "sociale Frage" 277619, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.

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    Keywords

    industrialization; invention; universities; cities;
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