Discussion paper

DP6716 A Policy Insight into the R&D-Patent Relationship

This paper investigates whether patent counts can be taken as indicators of macroeconomic innovation performance. The empirical model explicitly accounts for the two components of patenting output: research productivity and patent propensity. The empirical analysis aims at explaining the `correct' number of priority filings in 34 countries. It confirms that the two components play a substantial role as witnessed by the impact of the design of several policies, namely education, intellectual property and science and technology policies. A major policy implication relates to the design of patent systems, which ultimately induces, or allows for, aggressive patenting strategies.

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Citation

van Pottelsberghe de la Potterie, B and G de Rassenfosse (2008), ‘DP6716 A Policy Insight into the R&D-Patent Relationship‘, CEPR Discussion Paper No. 6716. CEPR Press, Paris & London. https://cepr.org/publications/dp6716