Law and Innovation: Evidence from State Trade Secrets Laws

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Png, I. P. L.
• 署名单位: National University of Singapore
• 刊物名称: REVIEW OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0034-6535
• DOI: 10.1162/REST_a_00532
• 发表日期: 2017-03
• 页码: 167-179
• 关键词: research-and-development; worlds-fairs; spillovers; patents; FIRMS

摘要

Here, I study the effect of state enactment of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA) on R&D among U.S. businesses between 1979 and 1998. Using a new index of the legal protection of trade secrets, I find that the UTSA was associated with higher R&D among larger companies and those in high-tech industries. For the average company in the respective industry, the UTSA was associated with 3.2% more R&D in pharmaceuticals and 3.1% more R&D in computers and office equipment, as contrasted with no significant change in soaps and cleaners, and industrial machinery and equipment.