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Career concerns as a public good: The role of signaling for open source software development

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  • Abou El-Komboz, Lena
  • Goldbeck, Moritz

Abstract

Why do developers contribute to open-source software (OSS), a public good? We study OSS activity of some 22,900 developers on the largest online code repository platform, GitHub, and find evidence in favor of career concerns as a motivation. Our difference-in-differences model leverages temporal variation in signaling incentives to identify OSS activity driven by career concerns. We find that OSS activity of users who move for a job is significantly elevated in the job search period. This effect is driven by projects increasing external visibility and written in programming languages highly valued in the labor market, but with a lower direct use-value for the community.

Suggested Citation

  • Abou El-Komboz, Lena & Goldbeck, Moritz, 2025. "Career concerns as a public good: The role of signaling for open source software development," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:labeco:v:97:y:2025:i:c:s0927537125001241
    DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2025.102800
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • 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
    • H40 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - General
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J30 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - General

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