Journal of Economic Perspectives
ISSN 0895-3309 (Print) | ISSN 1944-7965 (Online)
Migration and Innovation: Learning from Patent and Inventor Data
Journal of Economic Perspectives
(pp. 27–54)
(Complimentary)
Abstract
Research on international migration and innovation relies heavily on inventor and patent data, with "migrant inventors" attracting a great deal of attention, especially for what concerns their role in easing the international transfer of knowledge. This hides the fact that many of them move to their host country before starting their inventive career or even before completing their education. We discuss the conceptual and practical difficulties that stand in the way of investigating other likely channels of influence of inventor's migration on innovation, namely the easing of skill shortages and the increase of variety in inventive teams, firms, and location.Citation
Lissoni, Francesco, and Ernest Miguelez. 2024. "Migration and Innovation: Learning from Patent and Inventor Data." Journal of Economic Perspectives 38 (1): 27–54. DOI: 10.1257/jep.38.1.27Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- J15 Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
- O31 Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
- O33 Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
- O34 Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital