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Some Economics of User Interfaces

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  • Hal R. Varian

    (University of Michigan)

Abstract

I examine the incentives for software providers to design appropriate user interfaces. There are two sorts of costs involved when one uses software: the fixed cost of learning to use a piece of software and the the variable cost of operating the software. For example menu driven software is easy to learn, but tedious to operate. I show that a monopoly provider of software generally invests the ``right'' amount of resources in making the software easy to learn, but too little in making it easy to operate. In some extreme cases a monopolist may even make the software {\it too\/} easy to learn.

Suggested Citation

  • Hal R. Varian, 1994. "Some Economics of User Interfaces," Computational Economics 9401003, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:wpa:wuwpco:9401003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. repec:bla:econom:v:43:y:1976:i:17:p:127-37 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Schmalensee, Richard, 1979. "Market Structure, Durability, and Quality: A Selective Survey," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 17(2), pages 177-196, April.
    3. A. Michael Spence, 1975. "Monopoly, Quality, and Regulation," Bell Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 6(2), pages 417-429, Autumn.
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    JEL classification:

    • C8 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs

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