Transnational Spatial Dependencies in the Geography of Non-Resident Patent Filings

This article provides new insights into how geography shapes spatio-temporal variations in the propensity of actors from particular countries to file for non-resident patents in specific foreign economies. Our major contribution is to show that, in addition to bi-lateral exports and outward foreign direct investment, the geography of non-resident patenting is shaped by transnational spatial dependencies: the cross-border patenting activity of residents from one country is influenced by the prior patenting activity of residents from third-countries. We find that domestic actors from particular countries are more likely to file for patent protection in focal foreign economies where their regional peers and, to a lesser extent, competitors from economies with similar export product structures have filed for a larger number of patents