Publication

Globalization, high growth rates in high-tech industries, growing emerging markets and harmonization of patent institutions across countries have stimulated increased international patenting. The authors use a simple model of international patenting developed by Eaton and Kortum (1996) where the decision to patent in a country depends on country characteristics and the quality of the patented invention. With access to a unique database on Swedish firms’ patents and patent behavior the authors are able to estimate some of these relations and test their validity.