Patents and the Success of Venture-Capital Backed Startups: Using Examiner Assignment to Estimate Causal Effects

Patrick Gaule

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

I study whether patent protection has a causal effect on entrepreneurial firm outcomes using a measure of patent examiner leniency as an instrument for getting patents. The analysis is based on sample of 1,950 U.S. startups applying for patent protection in the two years following their first round of venture capital funding. I find a positive and large effect of patents on firm success but only for life science firms and more important inventions. I interpret these results as reflecting the importance of patents in appropriating returns to invention in the life science industry.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)350-376
Number of pages27
JournalJournal of Industrial Economics
Volume66
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Jun 2018

Keywords

  • Acquisition
  • Entrepreneurship
  • G24
  • Initial Public Offering
  • L26
  • O34
  • Patent Examiners
  • Patents
  • Venture Capital

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Accounting
  • General Business,Management and Accounting
  • Economics and Econometrics

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