Measuring the Characteristics and Employment Dynamics of U.S. Inventors
September 2022
Working Paper Number:
CES-22-43
Abstract
Innovation is a key driver of long run economic growth. Studying innovation requires a clear view of the characteristics and behavior of the individuals that create new ideas. A general lack of rich, large-scale data has constrained such analyses. We address this by introducing a new dataset linking patent inventors to survey, census, and administrative microdata at the U.S. Census Bureau. We use this data to provide a first look at the demographic characteristics, employer characteristics, earnings, and employment dynamics of inventors. These linkages, which will be available to researchers with approved access, dramatically increases the scope of what can be learned about inventors and innovative activity.
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:
researcher,
disclosure,
study,
invention,
research,
entrepreneur,
entrepreneurship,
innovation,
inventory,
patent,
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patenting,
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National Bureau of Economic Research,
Longitudinal Business Database,
Survey of Industrial Research and Development,
Decennial Census,
Educational Services,
American Community Survey,
Patent and Trademark Office,
Social Security Number,
Longitudinal Employer Household Dynamics,
Business Register,
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Census Bureau Disclosure Review Board,
Person Validation System,
Health Care and Social Assistance,
Business Research and Development and Innovation Survey,
Personally Identifiable Information,
Federal Statistical Research Data Center
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