Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • November 2006
  • Article
  • Review of Economics and Statistics

Patent Citations as a Measure of Knowledge Flows: The Influence of Examiner Citations

By: Juan Alcacer and Michelle Gittelman
  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:6
ShareBar

Abstract

Analysis of patent citations is a core methodology in the study of knowledge diffusion. However, citations made by patent examiners have not been separately reported, adding unknown noise to the data. We leverage a recent change in the reporting of patent data showing citations added by examiners. The magnitude is high: two-thirds of citations on the average patent are inserted by examiners. Furthermore, 40% of all patents have all citations added by examiners. We analyze the distribution of examiner and inventor citations with respect to self-citation, distance, technology overlap, and vintage. Results indicate that inferences about inventor knowledge using pooled citations may suffer from bias or overinflated significance levels.

Keywords

Patents; Knowledge Sharing; Management Analysis, Tools, and Techniques; Information Technology; Prejudice and Bias; Change

Citation

Alcacer, Juan, and Michelle Gittelman. "Patent Citations as a Measure of Knowledge Flows: The Influence of Examiner Citations." Review of Economics and Statistics 88, no. 4 (November 2006): 774–779.
  • Find it at Harvard
  • Read Now

About The Author

Juan Alcacer

Strategy
→More Publications

More from the Authors

    • December 2022
    • Faculty Research

    Iberdrola: Leading the Energy Revolution

    By: Juan Alcácer and Emer Moloney
    • December 2022 (Revised January 2023)
    • Faculty Research

    Circles.Life at a Crossroads of Growth

    By: Juan Alcacer and Adina Wong
    • November 2022
    • Faculty Research

    Introduction to the RC Strategy Course 2023

    By: Juan Alcacer
More from the Authors
  • Iberdrola: Leading the Energy Revolution By: Juan Alcácer and Emer Moloney
  • Circles.Life at a Crossroads of Growth By: Juan Alcacer and Adina Wong
  • Introduction to the RC Strategy Course 2023 By: Juan Alcacer
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College