Inequality in Technological Innovation Capability between Provinces in China

Gini index is applied to measure the inequality in the technological innovation represented by the number of the granted patents in the period between 1998 and 2008 between provinces in China.The Gini index and its variation are decomposed according to patent sources and three regions of middle,eastern,and western part.The results show that: the gap between technological innovation capability widened and the inequality were mainly caused by the differences in new type and practical patent and exterior design patent;inventions of new type and practical patent contributes to reduction of the inequality in technological innovation capability;most of the disparity and difference is explained by the differences between regions and the eastern region makes the greatest contributions within the three regions.