Scaling Relationship of Patent Counts vs. Population Size - Regional and Population Subgroup Analyses of 50 States in the U.S.

International Journal of Technology, Policy, and Management (2016) Vol.16, No.4

Gachon GCCR Working Paper Series No. 13-11

33 Pages Posted: 29 Jan 2015 Last revised: 29 Jul 2017

See all articles by Yu Sang Chang

Yu Sang Chang

Gachon University - College of Business and Economics

Yoo-Taek Lee

Endicott College of International Studies, Woosong University

Hyun Ki Kim

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Sun Woo Nam

Gachon University - College of Business and Economics

Date Written: January 28, 2015

Abstract

We examine the scaling relationship between the number of patents granted and the population size of individual states in the U.S. over the period of 1992-2010. We find an increasing return to scale or superlinear relationship for the total sample of 50 states. And this relationship is relativity stable during the time period. When the relationship is examined by the subgroups of more populous vs. less populous states, we find that the subgroup of more populous states shows a more pronounced superlinear relation. On the other hand, the subgroup of less populous states displays a sublinear relation. When the relationship is analyzed among the four regions, the West shows a superlinear, while the other three regions display sublinear relations.

Next to population size, income per capita and population density often influence positively the outcome of patent counts. Implications from these findings will be presented.

Keywords: Patent activity, Scaling relation, Regional subgroup, Population-based subgroup

Suggested Citation

Chang, Yu Sang and Lee, Yoo-Taek and Kim, Hyun Ki and Nam, Sun Woo, Scaling Relationship of Patent Counts vs. Population Size - Regional and Population Subgroup Analyses of 50 States in the U.S. (January 28, 2015). International Journal of Technology, Policy, and Management (2016) Vol.16, No.4, Gachon GCCR Working Paper Series No. 13-11, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2556734 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2556734

Yu Sang Chang (Contact Author)

Gachon University - College of Business and Economics ( email )

Korea

Yoo-Taek Lee

Endicott College of International Studies, Woosong University ( email )

171 Dongdaejeon-ro
Dong-gu
Daejeon, 34606
Korea, Republic of (South Korea)
042-630-9795 (Phone)
042-630-9881 (Fax)

Hyun Ki Kim

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Sun Woo Nam

Gachon University - College of Business and Economics ( email )

Korea

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