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Personality and regional innovativeness: An empirical analysis of German patent data

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  • Reher, Leonie
  • Runst, Petrik
  • Thomä, Jörg

Abstract

This paper contributes to the new literature on the role of personality for regional innovativeness by examining whether this role varies between different types of regions. Building on regionally aggregated levels of individual Big Five personality traits, we find that only extraversion has a positive effect on patenting in German regions. Its impact is particularly important in lagging regions. We interpret this result as an indication of the compensatory role of collaboration for the innovativeness of lagging regions characterized by low levels of (business) R&D, which demonstrates the need for place-sensitive policies that take into account different modes of innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Reher, Leonie & Runst, Petrik & Thomä, Jörg, 2022. "Personality and regional innovativeness: An empirical analysis of German patent data," ifh Working Papers 39/2022, Volkswirtschaftliches Institut für Mittelstand und Handwerk an der Universität Göttingen (ifh).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:ifhwps:392022
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Innovation; Big Five; Personality; Lagging regions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • R1 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics

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