Distribution of municipal patents of Southern Brazil: a spatial analysis, with an emphasis on local effects

Abstrat

This paper analyzes the spatial distribution of municipal patents among the municipalities of the South of Brazil, investigating a possible convergence process between 2001-2014. For this, we used the Exploratory Analysis of Spatial Data, Spatial Econometrics and Geographically Weighted Regression. As a corollary, the patent distribution did not present spatial randomness, evidencing a spatial concentration pattern of technological innovation, which has intensified over the years. In addition, it was verified the existence of a process of homogenization in the distribution of patents, especially in the wrap-up of those municipalities that already had a high degree of innovation initially, evidencing a tendency of convergence.

Keywords:
Spatial Convergence; Patents; Spatial Econometrics; Geographically Weighted Regression