Behavioural economics, elucidation of the patent examination process: Policy research for the improvement of patent examination efficiency and quality

Abstract

Empirical economist Professor Ryo Nakajima, from the Faculty of Economics at Keio University in Japan, is investigating unproductive procrastination behaviours in relation to patent examiners. Nakajima is working alongside Associate Professor Ryuichi Tamura, from the University of Niigata Prefecture, and Associate Professor Michitaka Sasaki, from Tottori University, to research US patent examiners and, in particular, how their procrastination behaviors have substantial negative impacts on the quality and efficiency of the patent process. By scrutinising the patent prosecution data, the team will explore unproductive procrastination behaviors of US patent examiners, probe whether these behaviours are caused by present-biased preferences and estimate the magnitude of the problems. Thus, the research will examine the validity of the hypothesised present-biased preferences in a real work environment.