Estimating Spillovers from Publicly Funded R&D: Evidence from the US Department of Energy

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Myers, Kyle R.; Lanahan, Lauren
• 署名单位: Harvard University; University of Oregon
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0002-8282
• DOI: 10.1257/aer.20210678
• 发表日期: 2022
• 页码: 2393-2423
• 关键词: knowledge spillovers; patent citations; INNOVATION; TECHNOLOGY; GOVERNMENT; localization; geography; policies; IMPACT; FIRMS

摘要

We quantify the magnitude of R&D spillovers created by grants to small firms from the US Department of Energy. Our empirical strategy leverages variation due to state-specific matching policies, and we develop a new approach to measuring both geographic and technological spillovers that does not rely on an observable paper trail. Our estimates suggest that for every patent produced by grant recipients, three more are produced by others who benefit from spillovers. Sixty percent of these spillovers occur within the United States, and many of them occur in technological areas substantially different from those targeted by the grants.