Knowledge networks, boundary effects, and the integration of technology factor markets

知识网络、边界效应与技术要素市场一体化

Abstract

Improving the interconnected technology factor market network, mapped by the autonomous and orderly flow of patents, is a key area for building a unified national market. Based on data mining techniques, over 1.5 million micro-level "individual pair" patent transfer information records were obtained and merged into a "city pair" patent transfer dataset. A causal inference framework for the "boundary effect" of patent transfer was then constructed to examine the provincial and municipal administrative boundary effects in patent transfer scenarios. The results show that the boundary effect of patent transfer does exist, with provincial and municipal administrative boundary effects being 2.05 times and 18.42 times respectively. This means that intra-provincial patent transfers are equivalent to 2.05 times the number of inter-provincial patent transfers, and patent transfers occur more frequently between micro-level individuals within the same city. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that inter-provincial patent transfers exhibit geographical attenuation and a directional attenuation characteristic of "east to west." The "decentralized breakthrough" in the central region leads to a stronger trend of cross-regional technology factor market integration in central and eastern China. Conversely, the city boundary effect is stronger in the relatively developed eastern region. From the perspective of "proactive government", this article finds that judicial protection of intellectual property rights can effectively weaken the boundary effect, and that it, along with administrative protection and digital economy pathways, will strengthen the market boundary effect.