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Network of Tinkerers: A Model of Open-Source Technology Innovation

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Author Info
Meyer, Peter B. () (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Abstract

Airplanes were invented by hobbyists and experimenters, and some personal computers were as well. Similarly, many open-source software developers are interested in the software they make, and not focused on profit. Based on these cases, this paper has a model of agents called tinkerers who want to improve a technology for their own reasons, by their own criteria, and who see no way to profit from it. Under these conditions, they would rather share their technology than work alone. The members of the agreement form an information network. The network's members optimally specialize based on their opportunities in particular aspects of the technology or in expanding or managing the network. Endogenously there are incentives to standardize on designs and descriptions of the technology. A tinkerer in the network who sees an opportunity to produce a profitable product may exit the network to create a startup firm and conduct focused research and development. Thus a new industry can arise.

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Paper provided by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in its series Working Papers with number 413.

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Length: 33 pages
Date of creation: Nov 2007
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:bls:wpaper:ec070120

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Related research
Keywords: Technological Change Open Source Software Uncertainty Innovation Invention Collective Invention Hackers Hobbyists Experimenters Airplane

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
O3 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Technological Change
O31 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Technological Change - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
O34 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Technological Change - - - Intellectual Property Rights
N10 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Growth and Fluctuations - - - General, International, or Comparative
D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search, Learning, and Information
D85 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Network Formation

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References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
  1. Peter B. Meyer, 2003. "Episodes of Collective Invention," Working Papers 368, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. [Downloadable!]
  2. James Bessen & Eric Maskin, 2006. "Sequential Innovation, Patents, and Imitation," Economics Working Papers 0025, Institute for Advanced Study, School of Social Science. [Downloadable!]
  3. Schrader, Stephan, 1991. "Informal technology transfer between firms: Cooperation through information trading," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 153-170, April. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  4. Nathan Rosenberg, 1996. "Uncertainty and technological change," Conference Series ; [Proceedings], Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, issue Jun, pages 91-125. [Downloadable!]
  5. Nuvolari, A., 2003. "Open source software development: some historical perspectives," ECIS Working Papers 03.01, Eindhoven Centre for Innovation Studies, Eindhoven University of Technology. [Downloadable!]
  6. Allen, Robert C., 1983. "Collective invention," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 4(1), pages 1-24, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  7. David, Paul A, 1998. "Common Agency Contracting and the Emergence of "Open Science" Institutions," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 88(2), pages 15-21, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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