In this paper we develop a theory of patenting in which a firm preserves its reputation to only apply for a patent whenever a truly patentable idea has been generated. Firms have a short-run incentive to deviate and receive additional rents from unworthy pending patents, as well as potential...

This document provides notes from a workshop hosted by the Economics, Research and Evidence Team at the U.K. Intellectual Property Office as part of an ESRC/AHRC funded project. The workshop was an informal debate on changes to business models in the Creative Industries. Participants examined...

When the design of an artifact is quot;modularized,quot; the elements of the design are split up and assigned to modules according to a formal architecture or plan. Some of the modules are quot;hidden,quot; meaning that design decisions in those modules do not affect decisions in other modules;...

Baby Boomers and other business owners are divesting their Small and Mid-Sized Enterprises (SME) for several reasons. Absent a well-planned Business Succession Plan, decades of knowledge, innovation, and wealth can be lost both to stakeholders and society alike. Although Succession Planning has...

Baby Boomers and other business owners are divesting their Small and Mid-Sized Enterprises (SME) for several reasons. Absent a well-planned Business Succession Plan, decades of knowledge, innovation, and wealth can be lost both to stakeholders and society alike. Although Succession Planning has...

For a period starting in 2015, Apple, Google, and Microsoft became the most valuable companies in the world. Each was marked by an external developer ecosystem. Anecdotally, at least, developers matter. Using a formal model of code spillovers, we show how a rising number of developers can invert...

Mergers lead to larger firms and a less competitive market structure, but their effects on innovation are not clear. Mergers may improve innovation incentives by promoting economies of scope and scale, R\&D activities, and increasing the ability to deal with uncertainties. However, mergers may...

The impact of innovation on mergers has been a subject of debate in merger enforcements. Firms may decide to merge because of increasing market share and expanding capacity. However, mergers may also be motivated by innovation since they provide resources for commercialization of innovation and...

Improving shareholder value has often been cited as a merger determinant. Since mergers create larger firms and less competition, they may increase shareholder value through higher market share and stock-market value. We investigate merger impacts on firms' stock-market value and market share....