| Title | Examining Patent Examiners: Present Bias, Procrastination and Task Performance |
| Date | December 10, 2020 (Thursday) 16:30-18:00 |
| Location | via Zoom |
| Abstract | This paper explores the unproductive procrastination behavior of patent examiners, probes whether such behavior is caused by present-biased preferences, and estimates the magnitude. We set out a quasihyperbolic discounting model where a patent examiner is assigned a biweekly quota of patent application reviews and determines the level of effort by the deadline. We estimate the present-bias factor of each patent examiner based on patent prosecution data in the U.S. and find that the proportion of present-biased individuals exceeds the majority. We demonstrate that the job separation rate is higher for less present-biased patent examiners, and a fragmented work quota can improve patent examination quality and timeliness. |
| Paper | Paper Link |
| Slide | |
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