Government Preferences for Promoting Open-Source Software: A Solution in Search of a Problem

84 Pages Posted: 24 May 2002

See all articles by Bernard Reddy

Bernard Reddy

David S. Evans

Market Platform Dynamics; Berkeley Research Group, LLC

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: May 21, 2002

Abstract

Governments around the world are making or considering efforts to promote open-source software (typically produced by cooperatives of individuals) at the expense of proprietary software (generally sold by for-profit software developers). This article examines the economic basis for these kinds of government interventions in the market. It first provides some background on the software industry. The article discusses the industrial organization and performance of the proprietary software business and describes how the open-source movement produces and distributes software. It then surveys current government proposals and initiatives to support open-source software and examines whether there is a significant market failure that would justify such intervention in the software industry. The article concludes that the software industry has performed remarkably well over the past 20 years in the absence of government intervention. There is no evidence of any significant market failures in the provision of commercial software and no evidence that the establishment of policy preferences in favor of open-source software on the part of governments would increase consumer welfare.

Keywords: software, open source, market failure, GPL, BSD, intellectual property, innovation, security, privacy, network effects, externalities

JEL Classification: K0, L1, L5, O3

Suggested Citation

Reddy, Bernard and Evans, David S., Government Preferences for Promoting Open-Source Software: A Solution in Search of a Problem (May 21, 2002). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=313202 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.313202

David S. Evans

Market Platform Dynamics ( email )

140 South Dearborn St.
Chicago, IL 60603
United States

Berkeley Research Group, LLC ( email )

99 High St.
Boston, MA 02110
United States

HOME PAGE: http://davidsevans.org

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