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Externalities in Knowledge Production: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment

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  • Marit Hinnosaar
  • Toomas Hinnosaar
  • Michael Kummer
  • Olga Slivko

Abstract

Are there positive or negative externalities in knowledge production? Do current contributions to knowledge production increase or decrease the future growth of knowledge? We use a randomized field experiment, which added relevant content to some pages in Wikipedia while leaving similar pages unchanged. We find that the addition of content has a negligible impact on the subsequent long-run growth of content. Our results have implications for information seeding and incentivizing contributions, implying that additional content does not generate sizable externalities by inspiring nor discouraging future contributions.

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  • Marit Hinnosaar & Toomas Hinnosaar & Michael Kummer & Olga Slivko, 2019. "Externalities in Knowledge Production: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment," Papers 1903.01861, arXiv.org.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:1903.01861
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Abhishek Nagaraj, 2021. "Information Seeding and Knowledge Production in Online Communities: Evidence from OpenStreetMap," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(8), pages 4908-4934, August.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • L17 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Open Source Products and Markets
    • L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software

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