Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/18280 
Year of Publication: 
2002
Series/Report no.: 
DIW Discussion Papers No. 296
Publisher: 
Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW), Berlin
Abstract: 
Open source software (OSS) is a public good. A self-interested individual would consider providing such software, if the benefits he gained from having it justified the cost of programming. Nevertheless each agent is tempted to free ride and wait for others to develop the software instead. This problem is modelled as a war of attrition with complete information, job signaling, repeated contribution to the public good and uncertainty in programming. The resulting game does not feature any delay: software will be provided swiftly, by young, low-cost individuals who gain considerably by signaling their programming skills; the startup (and collapse) of an OSS project displays bandwagon dynamics.
Subjects: 
open source software
war of attrition
public goods
JEL: 
H41
L86
L31
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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