Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/340014 
Year of Publication: 
2026
Series/Report no.: 
ZEW Discussion Papers No. 26-010
Publisher: 
ZEW - Leibniz-Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung, Mannheim
Abstract: 
This paper explores whether the U.S. Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) increased the declaration of trade secrets. Leveraging cross-sectoral variation in the importance of trade secrets prior to the DTSA, empirical results show that the DTSA was followed by an increase in the intensive margin of trade secrets declaration in service industries, not in manufacturing industries though. The extensive margin of trade secret declaration increased in both services and manufacturing, where the surge was strongest in manufacturing. The extensive margin increased most strongly for manufacturing with a high sectoral R&D intensity. The results are of interest to policy makers as trade secrets can hinder knowledge flows with potential implications for innovation.
Subjects: 
Defend Trade Secrets Act
trade secrets
extensive and intensive margin
JEL: 
O34
O31
O32
L60
L80
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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