Patents and Innovation in Economic History

Petra Moser

No 21964, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

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.

JEL-codes: K0 K21 L51 N0 O30 O31 O34 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cse, nep-his, nep-ino, nep-ipr, nep-pr~ and nep-tid
Note: DAE LE PR
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (22)

Published as Petra Moser, 2016. "Patents and Innovation in Economic History," Annual Review of Economics, vol 8(1), pages 241-258.

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