The Impact of Technological Capabilities on Invention: An Investigation Based on Country Responsiveness Scores

This study explores the impact of "technological capabilities" (TCs) on invention (measured by "patenting intensity") in a dataset of 42 emerging and advanced countries observed over 13 years (1995-2007). By computing country responsiveness scores we are able to: (i) rank countries according to their inventive responsiveness; (ii) detect more influential TCs factors; (iii) test the presence of increasing/decreasing patenting returns to TCs. Results show an inverted-U relation between invention responsiveness and TCs intensity. We conclude that self-reinforcing mechanisms characterize the early stage of TCs accumulation (increasing returns), and weakening mechanisms higher levels of TCs intensity (decreasing returns). Findings are widely discussed. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.