IdEP Seminar "Knowledge Access: The Effects of Carnegie Libraries on Innovation", Enrico Berkes
Institute of Economics
Date: 10 January 2022 / 10:30 - 12:30
Online (click on Quicklink Teams) and Auditorium, Università della Svizzera italiana, Campus Ovest, Via Giuseppe Buffi 13, 6900 Lugano
Between 1883 and 1919, Andrew Carnegie funded the construction of more than 1,500 public libraries across the United States, reducing the costs of accessing knowledge for millions of people. We study the effect of these libraries on innovation using new data on city-level patenting and a novel control group: cities that qualified to receive a library grant and applied to be part of the program, but ultimately did not build a library. Patenting in recipient towns increased by 7-11 percent in the 20 years following library construction. We show that access to scientific knowledge and opportunities to interact with fellow patrons are possible mechanisms.
This paper is joint work with Peter Nencka (Miami University)
Enrico Berkes
Postdoctoral Researcher at Ohio State University
