Transnational spatial dependencies in the geography of non-resident patent filings

This article provides new insights into how geography shapes spatiotemporal variations in the propensity of actors from particular countries to file for non-resident patents in specific foreign economies. Our major contribution is to show that, in addition to bilateral exports and outward foreign direct investment, the geography of non-resident patenting is shaped by transnational spatial dependencies: the cross-border patenting activity of residents from one country is influenced by the prior patenting activity of residents from third countries. We find that domestic actors from particular countries are more likely to file for patent protection in focal foreign economies where their regional peers and, to a lesser extent, competitors from economies with similar export product structures have filed for a larger number of patents.