Date and Time: September 27th, 2019, 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Room: A 101 in the Economics Building (Museum)
Abstract
Using high speed rail connection information and patent citation data, we find robust patterns linking direct HSR connection with increased patent citations between Chinese cities. Furthermore, HSR connection is shown to slow down the delay in knowledge diffusion over distance. And in turn, increased patent citations help promote innovation. The heterogeneity in the effects of HSR connection is also largely in line with expectations, with industries with higher transportation costs and faster technological upgrading experiencing larger impact of HSR connection. The main results are robust to alternative samples, alternative measures, alternative citation windows and other checks, thus providing support for the beneficial effects of transportation infrastructure upgrading on knowledge transfer and technological innovation.
About the Speaker
Cheryl Long is professor at the school of economics at Xiamen University. She is a member of the Oversight Group in Economics for the State Council’s Academic Degree Commission of China and co-editor of China Economic Review. She received her PhD from Washington University St. Louis. Her main research interest is the economic analysis of institutions. Her research was published in the Journal of Law and Economics, Journal of Public Economics, Journal of International Economics, Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, etc.
