Using Patent Citation Data to Trace Knowledge Flows

在过去的十年中，许多经济学研究都集中在知识溢出现象上，这意味着当一个研究人员的努力促进或加强其他人的努力取得成功时所产生的外部性。 知识溢出在公共部门产生，大学和政府实验室产生的基础研究成果为私营部门的应用研究奠定了基础;在私营部门也产生知识溢出，研究人员利用其他私营机构产生的知识。 这些溢出效应是理解技术进步过程、技术进步如何促进经济增长以及如何有效利用政策杠杆通过创新促进增长的关键。 本研究的目的是分析知识溢出在不同时间、技术领域和地理区域的流动。 目前正在收集相关数据，以便能够测试纳入知识外溢效应的区域和部门增长模型。 这项研究很重要，因为它将增加我们对科学技术在促进经济增长中的作用的理解。 该项目的结果也将引起其他学者和科学政策制定者的兴趣。

Much economic research in the last decade has focused on the phenomenon of knowledge spillovers, by which it is meant that the externality that is created when one researcher's efforts facilitate or enhance the success of someone else's efforts. Knowledge spillovers are created in the public sector, when universities and government labs produce basic research results that provide the foundation for applied research in the private sector; they are also created in the private sector when researchers take advantage of knowledge produce by other private agents. These spillovers are key to understanding the process of technological progress, how it contributes to economic growth, and how policy levers can be used effectively to foster growth through innovation. The purpose of this research is to analyze the flows of knowledge spillovers across time, technological sectors, and geographic areas. Relevant data is already being assembled that will permit the testing of models of regional and sectorial growth incorporating knowledge spillovers. This research is important because it will increase our understanding of role of science and technology in fostering economic growth. The results of this project will also be of interest to other scholars and to science policy makers.