Empirical Studies of Innovation and Patenting

This course introduces PhD students to the empirical analysis of innovation using patent data, with a focus on the USPTO datasets. It explores the incentives for innovation, the role of universities and governments, venture capital’s influence on startup innovation, antitrust considerations, and the effects of patent disclosure. Additional topics include the geography of innovation, the private value of patents, and the contributions of star inventors. Through a review of key economic studies, students will develop analytical skills to assess the impact of policy and economic forces on technological progress. The course will end with a Stata lab session on how to use the USPTO datasets.