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Measuring national technological trajectories using 200 years of international patent data


Innovation underpins sustained long-run economic growth, yet measuring technological success is challenging. This column compiles two centuries of patent data and leverages filings in multiple patent offices to document the rise and decline of technological leadership. The findings suggest that technological progress can be fostered through long-run investments in R&D, education, and national security.


Antonin Bergeaud, Ruveyda Nur Gozen and John Van Reenen

17 March 2026


Vox EU


https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/measuring-national-technological-trajectories-using-200-years-international-patent

This work is published under POID and the CEP's Growth programme.

This publication comes under the following CEP theme: Innovation drivers