Persistent innovation: a cross-country study of output and diversity over time

Abstract

This article analyses firms’ dynamic behaviours of patent persistence and technology proximity in innovation activities for United States, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan during 1990–2003. We find that on average, the persistency of Japanese firms in sustaining their innovative activities is stronger than US firms, while South Korean firms are more tenacious than their Taiwanese counterparts.

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Prof Hsin Chang Lu for helpful comments and to Taiwan's National Science Council for financial support under grant no. NSC-93-2415-H-002-013.