Government-Mandated Open Source Development: The Case Study of Venezuela

21 Pages Posted: 12 Jul 2012

See all articles by Edgar Maldonado

Edgar Maldonado

Pennsylvania State University

Andrea Tapia

Pennsylvania State University - Department of Labor Studies and Industrial Relations

Date Written: August 15, 2007

Abstract

This research examines the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which because of high revenues from oil exports finds itself in the unique position of possessing the economic ability to support the development of an internal Information Economy. Simultaneously, The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has established two government ministries, those of Science and Technology and Telecommunications and Informatics, and developed national policies, which directly encourage the development of an internal information economy. As an example of these efforts, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has chosen to encourage, develop, and support the use of Open Source operating systems and software for all of its government agencies and affiliated partners. Since the country has recently moved to nationalize its largest industry, oil, and its telecommunications sector, this move to Open Source is more significant than it might have been in a country with a less centralized, socialist government. This project looks at the initiatives that the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is proposing. This research hopes to find how the use of Open Source as a governmental mandate in public offices stimulates the creation of human resources, new technologies, and ultimately the development of a country.

Keywords: Open Source Software, Open Source Development, National Policy, Venezuela, Latin America

Suggested Citation

Maldonado, Edgar and Tapia, Andrea, Government-Mandated Open Source Development: The Case Study of Venezuela (August 15, 2007). TPRC 2007, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2103922

Edgar Maldonado (Contact Author)

Pennsylvania State University ( email )

Harrisburg, PA
United States

Andrea Tapia

Pennsylvania State University - Department of Labor Studies and Industrial Relations ( email )

University Park, PA 16802
United States

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