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  3. American Economic Review
  4. May 2016
  5. Agglomeration of Invention in the Bay Area: Not Just ICT

Agglomeration of Invention in the Bay Area: Not Just ICT

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Abstract

We document that the Bay Area rose from 4% of all successful US patent applications in 1976 to 16% in 2008. This is partly driven by the increase in the prevalence of information and communication technology; however, even for patents unrelated to information and communication technology, we see a disproportionate increase in the share of US patents from the Bay Area. We interpret this growth as a trend to coagglomeration in invention across technologies, and explore different dimensions of this trend.

Citation

Forman, Chris, Avi Goldfarb, and Shane Greenstein. 2016. "Agglomeration of Invention in the Bay Area: Not Just ICT." American Economic Review, 106 (5): 146-51. DOI: 10.1257/aer.p20161018

Additional Materials

JEL Classification

  • L63 Microelectronics; Computers; Communications Equipment
  • L86 Information and Internet Services; Computer Software
  • O31 Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
  • O33 Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
  • R11 Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
  • R32 Other Spatial Production and Pricing Analysis