| Abstract: |
Globalization, high growth rates in high-tech industries, growing emerging
markets and harmonization of patent institutions across countries have
stimulated patenting in foreign markets. We use a simple model of
international patenting, where the decision to patent in a foreign country
depends on country characteristics and the quality of the patented invention.
With access to a detailed database on individual patents owned by Swedish
small firms and inventors, we are able to estimate some of these relationships
and test their validity. Our results indicate that the propensity to apply for
international patent protection increases with indicators of the quality of
the invention and indicators of technological rivalry and market size in the
host market. |