The role of geographic distance and technological complexity in U.S. interregional co-patenting over almost two centuries

Milad Abbasiharofteh, Tom Broekel () and Lars Mewes
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Milad Abbasiharofteh: Department of Economic Geography, Faculty of Spatial Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Lars Mewes: Institute of Economic and Cultural Geography, Leibniz University Hanover, Hanover, Germany

Environment and Planning A, 2024, vol. 56, issue 7, 2003-2022

Abstract: This paper examines how geographical proximity affected interregional co-patenting links in various technologies in the USA from 1836 to 2010. We classify technologies by their complexity and test whether it moderates the impact of distance on collaboration. Contrary to the ‘death of distance’ hypothesis, distance still matters for knowledge creation and exchange. Moreover, we show that the role of complexity has changed over time. In the 19th century, interregional collaborations within complex technologies were more sensitive to distance than within simple ones. This pattern reversed in the late 20th century, and such collaborative relations became more resilient to distance than simple ones.

Keywords: Network evolution; interregional collaboration; geographical proximity; technological complexity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Working Paper: The Roles of Geographic Distance and Technological Complexity in U.S. Interregional Co-patenting Over Almost Two Centuries (2024)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:envira:v:56:y:2024:i:7:p:2003-2022

DOI: 10.1177/0308518X241255525

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