Patterns of innovation during the Industrial Revolution: A reappraisal using a composite indicator of patent quality
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 : Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM) |
Subject: | Industrial Revolution | Patents | Macroinventions | Microinventions |
Saved in:
freely available
Series: | LEM Working Paper Series ; 2020/23 |
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Type of publication: | Book / Working Paper |
Type of publication (narrower categories): | Working Paper |
Language: | English |
Other identifiers: | 1728948037 [GVK] hdl:10419/228162 [Handle] |
Classification: | N73 - Europe: Pre-1913 ; O31 - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives ; O33 - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes |
Source: |
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10012389339