In this paper, we leverage the first randomized control trial of inventors at the USPTO to demonstrate that granted patent rights provide substantial benefits to independent inventors. We also find that the nature of these benefits differs by inventor type. For financially-constrained Pro se inventors from the USPTO experiment, patents act as a signal and increase the likelihood of affiliation. For the broader set of independent inventors, however, patents reduce financial, informational, and commercialization frictions and increase subsequent inventive activity.
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Robotic warehouses have transformed logistics, prioritizing speed and efficiency. However, traditional static priority systems often leave low-priority customers facing excessive delays, raising concerns about fairness. This research, based on Invia, a robotic warehouse company, proposes a dynamic priority allocation model to balance efficiency and fairness. By adjusting order priorities over time, this approach ensures that both high-priority and long-waiting low-priority orders receive timely fulfillment. Through stochastic modeling and simulations, we demonstrate that dynamic prioritization reduces delays compared to static and first-come, first-served (FCFS) models. Case studies in e-commerce and healthcare logistics illustrate the broader impact of fairness in automation. As industries increasingly rely on AI-driven decision-making, the balance between efficiency and equity becomes critical. This research challenges the assumption that robotic warehouses should optimize for speed alone and advocates for a future where fairness plays a central role in automated commerce.
- Research
- Digital Transformation, Logistics and Supply Chain
