An Empirically Validated Framework for Limiting Free-Riding in P2P Networks Through the Use of Social Network Information

Fatmawati Zifa () and Jörn Altmann

No 201060, TEMEP Discussion Papers from Seoul National University; Technology Management, Economics, and Policy Program (TEMEP)

Abstract: In order to overcome the problem of free-riding in current P2P system, we suggest applying social network theory. Based on our exploration of the overlapping research fields of social networks and peer-to-peer networks, we propose a new P2P framework within this paper. It specifies social network information that can be used in a P2P system to avoid performance inefficiencies caused by free-riding or by policies to overcome free-riding. To identify this specific social network information, we conduct a survey among a small group of students, who use Skype, a popular P2P system. We use descriptive analysis and multiple regression analysis to analyze the survey data. The results of the analyses provide an indication that the idea of using social network information in P2P systems is valid and that it is supported by P2P users. Based on our findings, we make recommendations for a successful implementation of social-network-information-based P2P systems that can overcome free-riding issues and, consequently, improve the performance of P2P systems.

Keywords: Peer-to-peer systems; user behavior analysis; free-riding; social network information; human and social factors in IT adoption; IT deployment; IT use (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C25 C42 C51 D01 D12 D83 D85 L86 L96 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 16 pages
Date: 2010-06, Revised 2010-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cmp and nep-mkt
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Published in PACIS2010, Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems, PACIS 2010, Taipei, Taiwan, July 2010

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:snv:dp2009:201060

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