Question 1

• a briefly explain the purpose of patents.
• b.explain how increased research and development (R&D) can increase an economy's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Table 1 shows patent applications published per 100,000 residents in selected UK cities and towns, 2018:

1	Cambridge	148.1
2	Coventry	95.5
3	Oxford	64.5
4	Derby	61.0
5	Aldershot	39.0
6	Aberdeen	34.1
7	Edinburgh	31.6
8	Gloucester	24.0
9	Bristol	20.1
10	Birkenhead	19.9

54	Liverpool	5.4
55	Sunderland	4.9
56	Glasgow	4.4
57	Southend	4.3
58	Luton	4.3
59	Doncaster	4.1
60	Ipswich	4.1
61	Barnsley	3.6
62	Wakefield	2.9
63	Wigan	2.6

Source: Enenkel, Quinio and Swinney (2020, p. 29)

• c.Without making any precise calculations, describe two highlights of the data in Table 1.

• d.Use the data in Table 1 and Table 2 to calculate the number of published patent applications in each of the following cities/towns - Cambridge, Bristol and Barnsley - in 2018 to the nearest whole number.
• e.Briefly explain how a high number of patent applications can increase success for firms.