Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP13958
Authors: Alessandro Nuvolari; Valentina Tartari; Matteo Tranchero
Abstract: The distinction between macro- and microinventions is at the core of recent debates on the Industrial Revolution. Yet, the empirical testing of this notion has remained elusive. We address this issue by introducing a new quality indicator for all patents granted in England in the period 1700-1850. Our findings indicate that macroinventions did not exhibit any specific time-clustering, while micro-inventions were, instead, correlated with the economic cycle. In addition, we also find were characterized by a labour-saving bias. These results suggest that Allen’s and Mokyr’s view of macro-inventions rather than conflicting should be regarded as complementary.
Keywords: Industrial Revolution; Patents; Macroinventions; Microinventions
JEL Codes: N74; O31
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| macroinventions (O35) | labor-saving bias (J70) |
| professional engineers (J44) | macroinventions (O35) |
| previous experience in patenting (O34) | patent quality (L15) |
| previous experience in patenting (O34) | macroinventions (O35) |
| macroinventions (O35) | microinventions (O36) |
| macroinventions (O35) | time clustering (C38) |
| microinventions (O36) | economic cycle (E32) |