Variable

Definitions

Source

L_PATENT_GRA

Log of granted patents in the province i in year (t + 3)

National Bureau of Statistics of China

L_PATENT_POP

Log of granted patents per million persons in the province i in year (t + 3)

National Bureau of Statistics of China

$A_{j,t}^{\varphi }$

L_GDP_PC

Log of GDP per capita

National Bureau of Statistics of China

$L_{j,t}^{A\lambda }$

L_PERSONAL

Log of amount of full-time equivalent of R & D personnel

China Statistical Yearbook on Science and Technology

$X_{j,t}^{INF}$

OPENNESS

Openness level: trade volume/GDP

China Statistical Yearbook

$X_{j,t}^{INF}$

ED_SHARE

Share of local government’s expenditures spent on education

National Bureau of Statistics of China

$X_{j,t}^{INF}$

INTER

Intermediary and law system

National Economic Research Institute

$X_{j,t}^{INF}$

IP

Strength of protection for intellectual property

National Economic Research Institute

$Y_{j,t}^{CLUS}$

TERTIARY

Share of tertiary sector in GDP

National Bureau of Statistics of China

$Z_{j,t}^{LINK}$

UNI_RD

Percentage of R & D expenditures from universities

China Statistical Yearbook on Science and Technology

$Z_{j,t}^{LINK}$

BANK

Contributions of bank to scientific and technical activities

China Statistical Yearbook on Science and Technology