Title: Patent Disclosure Regulation and Endogenous Innovation Networks

Speaker: Yuanzhen Lyu, Assistant Professor, Peking University

Time: 10:00-11:30, Nov 11th, 2026 (Wednesday)

Venue: Room 706, Mingde Business Building (Zhongguancun Campus)

Language: Chinese & English

ABSTRACT:

We examine how mandatory patent disclosure reallocates learning across firms. Using a directed citation network, we study the American Inventors Protection Act, which accelerated publication of patent applications. Firms with longer pre-reform publication lags become more central in the network as both firm types shift learning toward them, and subsequent patenting draws more on their knowledge. We develop and calibrate a model to quantify the welfare implications. The model implies that improved learning from high-type sources more than offsets reduced learning from low-type sources and weaker proprietary protection, raising welfare. Additionally, gains accrue disproportionately to firms holding valuable ideas.

SHORT BIOGRAPHY:

Yuanzhen Lyu is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at the Guanghua School of Management, Peking University. He received his Ph.D. in Accounting from the UCLA Anderson School of Management in 2024. His research interests lie at the intersection of accounting, macroeconomics, innovation and fixed income. His work has been published in the Journal of Financial Economics, The Accounting Review,  Economic Research Journal,  Journal of Financial Research, and China Journal of Economics。