This papers sheds light on the puzzling evidence that even though open source software (OSS) is a public good, it is developed for free by highly qualified, young and motivated individuals, and evolves at a rapid pace. We show that once OSS development is understood as the private provision of a...

This paper presents the stylized facts of open source software innovation and provides empirical evidence on the impact of increased competition by OSS on the innovative activity in the software industry. Furthermore, we introduce a simple formal model that captures the innovation impact of OSS...

This papers sheds light on the puzzling fact that even though open <p> source software (OSS) is a public good, it is developed for free by <p> highly qualified, young, motivated individuals, and evolves at a rapid <p> pace. We show that when OSS development is understood as the private <p> provision of a...</p></p></p></p>