nep-tid New Economics Papers
on Technology and Industrial Dynamics
Issue of 2012‒09‒30
three papers chosen by
Rui Baptista
Technical University of Lisbon

  1. The case against patents By Michele Boldrin; David K. Levine
  2. Innovative Parents and Entrepreneurial Spawning By Lööf, Hans; Nabavi, Pardis; Bazzazian , Navid
  3. Why Entrepreneurs Choose Risky R&D Projects - But Still Not Risky Enough By Färnstrand Damsgaard, Erika; Norbäck, Pehr-Johan; Persson, Lars; Vasconcelos, Helder

  1. By: Michele Boldrin; David K. Levine
    Abstract: The case against patents can be summarized briefly: there is no empirical evidence that they serve to increase innovation and productivity. There is strong evidence, instead, that patents have many negative consequences.
    Keywords: Patents ; Productivity
    Date: 2012
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fip:fedlwp:2012-035&r=tid
  2. By: Lööf, Hans (CESIS - Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies, Royal Institute of Technology); Nabavi, Pardis (CESIS - Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies, Royal Institute of Technology); Bazzazian , Navid (Strategy and Business Policy, HEC, Paris)
    Abstract: This paper analyzes how different innovation-strategies of incumbent firms affect the quantity and quality of their entrepreneurial spawning. Using a data set that comprises almost all patent applications by firms in Sweden for the period 1997-2008, we distinguishes between firms that are engaged in innovation activities persistently, occasionally and not at all. We do not find any statistically significant evidence that the chance of survival for a new firm can be linked back to the innovation strategy of the parent firm. In contrast, we provide strong evidence that employee start-ups from persistent innovators are more productive during the first five year on the market than other new ventures, everything else equal.
    Keywords: Patent; R&D; Spinoff; Productivity; Employment
    JEL: C23 O31 O32
    Date: 2012–09–17
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:cesisp:0282&r=tid
  3. By: Färnstrand Damsgaard, Erika (National Institute of Economic Research); Norbäck, Pehr-Johan (Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN)); Persson, Lars (Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN)); Vasconcelos, Helder (Faculdade de Economia, Universidade do Porto)
    Abstract: Entrepreneurs face higher commercialization costs than incumbents. We show that this implies that entrepreneurs will choose more risky projects than incumbents, aiming to reduce their high expected marginal commercialization cost. However, entrepreneurs may select too safe projects from a social point of view, since they do not internalize the business stealing effect. We also show that commercialization support induces entrepreneurship but may lead to mediocre entrepreneurship by inducing entrepreneurs to choose less risky projects, whereas R&D support encourages entrepreneurship without affecting the type of entrepreneurship. Using Swedish patent citation data, we find empirical support for predictions of the model.
    Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Innovation; Start-ups; Ownership; Breakthrough; Quality
    JEL: G24 L10 L20 M13 O30
    Date: 2012–09–18
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:iuiwop:0926&r=tid

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