A new article and blog post!
"Procuring Promising Provisions: the British Patent System and the Navy Proviso, 1794–1831"
By Stephen Billington (@steve-bill-econ.bsky.social) and Joe Lane
doi.org/10.1093/ereh...
My new publication (co-authored with Joe Lane) has been published online! We look at a lesser known instance where the British State intervened into the patent system to procure new innovations! Read it here: doi.org/10.1093/ereh...
Patently Peculiar: Patents and Innovation in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands By Homer Wagenaar and Christopher L. Colvin
New working paper, co-authored with Homer Wagenaar.
We look at the strange but smart patent system of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815–1830) — a mix of examination + royal discretion of patent terms.
Turns out: it worked better than you'd think.
www.quceh.org.uk/uploads/1/0/...
Financing Innovation: The Role of Patent Examination. Stephen D. Billington, Christopher L. Colvin and Christopher Coyle. How does patent examination influence access to finance for innovative firms? We exploit a reform to the UK’s patent system that introduced substantive examination to the patent application process, improving the information available to potential investors on the value of firms’ patents. Using a newly compiled firm-level dataset of exchange-listed corporations, we find that firms holding examined patents were able to borrow more, reflecting improved access to capital markets, and leading to firm growth. Our results highlight the role of patent examination in reducing information asymmetries, enhancing the signalling value of patents, and mitigating financial barriers to innovation.
New working paper alert: "Financing Innovation: The Role of Patent Examination". @steve-bill-econ.bsky.social, Christopher Coyle and I have been working on this for quite a while now. We are excited to have a full draft for your enjoyment! www.quceh.org.uk/uploads/1/0/...
I just created a starter pack focused on Economics of Innovation. Please join or share it!: go.bsky.app/9rkv2nx
#Economics #Innovation
This is the THIRD economic history starter pack, so economic history has more dedicated starter packs than any other!
