Does this innovation in the form of patents increase the quality of life in the country? Not everything is fixed by "numbers go up", it matters where those numb

Does this innovation in the form of patents increase the quality of life in the country? Not everything is fixed by "numbers go up", it matters where those numbers end up. If they end up in the hands of the wealthy, the quality of life for the average person will most likely decrease or stagnate at best. Taxation is at the moment the only realistic way (stronger unions might work as well) to make sure that not all of the gains from innovation go to the already wealthy. The average person in many parts of Europe is more satisfied with their life than the average person in the US and other more business friendly countries, even if the numbers are lower on paper. So even if cutting taxes would help create the kind of innovation the EU needs, it might not be worth the cost. We need to come up with ways to encourage innovation that don't involve giving more wealth and power to those who already have the most.