Abstract

The Economics of Open Source Software:
A Survey of the Early Literature

The Review of Network Economics

Volume 1, Issue 1 - March 2002, pp 66-74

Author

Aaron Schiff
Department of Economics, The University of Auckland
E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

This paper reviews the recent literature on the economics of open source software. Two different sets of issues are addressed. The first looks at the incentives of programmers to participate in open source projects. The second considers the business models used by profit-making firms in the open source industry, and the effects on existing closed source firms. Some possible future research directions are also given.

Keywords: Open source software, programmer incentives, open source business models.

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