Patents and Innovation in Economic History

35 Pages Posted: 26 Mar 2016

See all articles by Petra Moser

Petra Moser

NYU Stern Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Date Written: March 24, 2016

Abstract

A strong tradition in economic history, which primarily relies on qualitative evidence and statistical correlations, has emphasized the importance of patents as a primary driver of innovation. Recent improvements in empirical methodology – through the creation of new data sets and advances in identification – have produced research that challenges this traditional view. The findings of this literature provide a more nuanced view of the effects of intellectual property, and suggest that when patent rights have been too broad or strong, they have actually discouraged innovation. This paper summarizes the major results from this research and presents open questions.

Suggested Citation

Moser, Petra, Patents and Innovation in Economic History (March 24, 2016). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2754342 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2754342

Petra Moser (Contact Author)

NYU Stern Department of Economics ( email )

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New York, NY 10003
United States

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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United States

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