2015/22 | LEM Working Paper Series | |
Gender Gap in Patenting Activities: Evidence from Iran |
||
Mojgan Samandar Ali Eshtehardi and Seyed Kamran Bagheri |
||
Keywords | ||
Gender gap, Patent, Iran, Technological change
| ||
JEL Classifications | ||
|
||
Abstract | ||
This study investigated gender differences in innovative behaviour and
technological change in Iran by using data on patents granted to
Iranians in Iran and their demographic characteristics. Descriptive
analysis was used to compare gender involvement and cooperation in
patent activities. In addition, an econometric analysis was employed
to investigate the statistical significance of the gender
differences. The results showed that although females have
participated much less than males, the percentage of female inventors
has an upward trend over the study period; that might be mainly due to
higher women’s propensity to engage in team-collaboration that has
increased over time. Moreover, the results demonstrated that the
probability of female involvement in innovative activities was
significantly higher when a state-run company or university was
involved while it was lower in the case of private institutions
involvement. Compared to other technological sectors, in IPC section D
(TEXTILES; PAPER) there was a higher male inter-gender collaboration
in favour of significantly higher female participation and
contribution. Moreover, after section D, in IPC section A (HUMAN
NECESSITIES) the probability of female presence as patentees was
higher compared to other sectors. Moreover, unequal geographical
distribution among provinces was detected. Potential factors
contributing to this disparity remain an open question for further
studies.
|
||
|
||
Back |