Micro-econometric analyses cover a wide range of new innovation 'input' and 'output' indicators. Among the robust findings about determinants of innovation is evidence on the importance of technological opportunity, of appropriability of innovation benefits, and of Schmooklerian demand-pull effects. As opposed to the evidence from standard R&D data, small firms appear more innovative and the impact of market power on innovation is, in the best case, modest.

This collection of papers describes advances in the measurement of innovation output, principally through the use of a new technique based on scanning of trade and technical journals. Experience in several countries is assessed and the strength and weaknesses of the technique discussed. The conclusion is that, taken together with recent advances in the design of questionnaires for postal surveys of innovation, this technique provides a radically improved data source for testing innovation theories and for effective policy analysis.