Patterns of innovation during the Industrial Revolution: a reappraisal using a composite indicator of patent quality
Alessandro Nuvolari, Valentina Tartari, Matteo Tranchero
The distinction between macro- and microinventions is at the core of recent debates on the Industrial Revolution. Yet, the empirical testing of this notion has remained elusive. We address this issue by introducing a new quality indicator for all patents granted in England in the period 1700-1850. Our findings indicate that macroinventions did not exhibit any specific time-clustering, while microinventions were correlated with the economic cycle. In addition, we also find that macroinventions were characterized by a labor-saving bias and were mostly introduced by professional engineers. These results suggest that Allen's and Mokyr's views of macroinventions, rather than conflicting, should be regarded as complementary.
Year of publication: |
[2020]
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Authors: | Nuvolari, Alessandro ; Tartari, Valentina ; Tranchero, Matteo |
Publisher: |
Pisa, Italy : LEM, Laboratory of Economics and Management, Institute of Economics, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna |
Subject: | Industrial Revolution | Patents | Macroinventions | Microinventions | Industrialisierung | Industrialization | Patent | Innovation | Großbritannien | United Kingdom | Technischer Fortschritt | Technological change | Industrieforschung | Industrial research | Patentrecht | Patent law |
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