Geographic Localization of Knowledge Spillovers as Evidenced by Patent Citations

42 Pages Posted: 26 Jan 2001 Last revised: 1 Dec 2022

See all articles by Adam B. Jaffe

Adam B. Jaffe

Brandeis University; Motu Economic and Public Policy Research; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Rebecca M. Henderson

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Sloan School of Management; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Manuel Trajtenberg

Tel Aviv University - Eitan Berglas School of Economics; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Date Written: February 1992

Abstract

We compare the geographic location of patent citations to those of the cited patents, as evidence of the extent to which knowledge spillovers are geographically localized. We find that citations to U.S. patents are more likely to come from the U.S., and more likely to come from the same state and SMSA as the cited patents than one would expect based only on the preexisting concentration of related research activity. These effects are particularly significant at the local (SMSA) level, and are particularly apparent in early citations.

Suggested Citation

Jaffe, Adam B. and Henderson, Rebecca M. and Trajtenberg, Manuel, Geographic Localization of Knowledge Spillovers as Evidenced by Patent Citations (February 1992). NBER Working Paper No. w3993, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=227360

Adam B. Jaffe (Contact Author)

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Rebecca M. Henderson

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Manuel Trajtenberg

Tel Aviv University - Eitan Berglas School of Economics ( email )

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