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The division of labor and voluntary production

Author

Listed:
  • Giampaolo Garzarelli

    (School of Economic and Business Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa.)

Abstract

The objective of this work is to run through some of the organizational characteristics of voluntary production, such as open source, the professions and scientific communities. To do so, the work considers production as division of labor rather than as production function. It finds that voluntary production exhibits: (1) the contribution of effort rather than of products; (2) self-selection in effort contribution; (3) a redundant division of labor characterized by social learning by doing; (4) a formal and informal hierarchical coordination. (81 words.)

Suggested Citation

  • Giampaolo Garzarelli, 2008. "The division of labor and voluntary production," Economía, Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales (IIES). Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales. Universidad de Los Andes. Mérida, Venezuela, vol. 33(25), pages 47-60, january-j.
  • Handle: RePEc:ula:econom:v:33:y:2008:i:25:p:47-60
    as

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    File URL: ftp://iies.faces.ula.ve/Pdf/Revista25/Rev25Garzarelli.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Division of labor; learning by doing; nature of the firm; voluntary production.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • L17 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Open Source Products and Markets
    • L22 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Organization and Market Structure
    • L23 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Organization of Production

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