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Direct and indirect network effects are equivalent: A comment on “Direct and Indirect Network Effects: Are They Equivalent?”

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  • Church, Jeffrey
  • Gandal, Neil

Abstract

Clements (2004) makes the following two claims: (i) unlike direct network effects, increases in the size of the market do not, in the case of indirect network effects, make standardization more likely, but (ii) indirect network effects are associated with excessive standardization. We show in Clements' framework that neither of these results are correct: standardization is more likely as the number of software firms increases and when the type of market equilibrium is unique – there are only multiple networks or only standardization – there is never excessive standardization, but there could be insufficient standardization, just as is the case with direct network effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Church, Jeffrey & Gandal, Neil, 2012. "Direct and indirect network effects are equivalent: A comment on “Direct and Indirect Network Effects: Are They Equivalent?”," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 30(6), pages 708-712.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:indorg:v:30:y:2012:i:6:p:708-712
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijindorg.2012.08.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dixit, Avinash K & Stiglitz, Joseph E, 1977. "Monopolistic Competition and Optimum Product Diversity," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 67(3), pages 297-308, June.
    2. Church Jeffrey & Gandal Neil & Krause David, 2008. "Indirect Network Effects and Adoption Externalities," Review of Network Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 7(3), pages 1-22, September.
    3. Steven C. Salop, 1979. "Monopolistic Competition with Outside Goods," Bell Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 10(1), pages 141-156, Spring.
    4. Farrell, Joseph & Saloner, Garth, 1986. "Standardization and variety," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 71-74.
    5. Clements, Matthew T., 2004. "Direct and indirect network effects: are they equivalent?," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 22(5), pages 633-645, May.
    6. Church, Jeffrey & Gandal, Neil, 1992. "Network Effects, Software Provision, and Standardization," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(1), pages 85-103, March.
    7. Carmen Matutes & Pierre Regibeau, 1988. ""Mix and Match": Product Compatibility without Network Externalities," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 19(2), pages 221-234, Summer.
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    Cited by:

    1. Shihui Tian & Guowei Hua & T. C. E. Cheng, 2019. "Optimal Deployment of Charging Piles for Electric Vehicles Under the Indirect Network Effects," Asia-Pacific Journal of Operational Research (APJOR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 36(01), pages 1-17, February.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • L1 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance

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