The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Olof Ejermo. Photo.

Olof Ejermo

Professor

Olof Ejermo. Photo.

Demographic patterns and trends in patenting: Gender, age, and education of inventors

Author

  • Taehyun Jung
  • Olof Ejermo

Summary, in English

Using population-wide data on inventors and their demographic characteristics, the paper analyzes trends and patterns by technologies in age, the level of education, and gender gap. We find that the education level of inventors has risen over time. We also find that the gender gap is closing but at slower pace than in other comparable areas of society. Much to our surprise, the average age of inventors has been falling in all areas, despite rising levels of education. To explain the latter finding, we suggest three mechanisms as alternatives to the burden of knowledge argument: 1) the burden of dynamic knowledge renewal, 2) new technological opportunities, and 3) a generally increased propensity to patent. We discuss policy and managerial implications of our findings. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license

Department/s

  • CIRCLE

Publishing year

2014

Language

English

Pages

110-124

Publication/Series

Technological Forecasting & Social Change

Volume

86

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Social Sciences Interdisciplinary

Keywords

  • Inventor
  • Patent
  • Gender
  • Age
  • Education

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0040-1625