Examining Patent Examiners: Present Bias, Procrastination and Task Performance

Ryo Nakajima, Michitaka Sasaki and Ryuichi Tamura
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Ryo Nakajima: Faculty of Economics, Keio University
Michitaka Sasaki: Organization for Research Initiative and Promotion, Tottori University
Ryuichi Tamura: Faculty of International Studies and Regional Development, University of Niigata

No 2020-015, Keio-IES Discussion Paper Series from Institute for Economics Studies, Keio University

Abstract: This paper explores the unproductive procrastination behavior of patent examiners, probes whether such behavior is caused by present-biased preferences, and estimates the magnitude. We set out a quasihyperbolic discounting model where a patent examiner is assigned a biweekly quota of patent application reviews and determines the level of effort by the deadline. We estimate the present-bias factor of each patent examiner based on patent prosecution data in the U.S. and find that the proportion of present-biased individuals exceeds the majority. We demonstrate that the job separation rate is higher for less present-biased patent examiners, and a fragmented work quota can improve patent examination quality and timeliness.

Keywords: patent examination; procrastination; present bias; quasihyperbolic discounting (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D03 J01 K29 O34 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 72 pages
Date: 2020-09-19
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ipr, nep-lab and nep-law
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:keo:dpaper:2020-015

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