Price Indexes for Microsoft's Personal Computer Software Products

Jaison Robert Abel (), Ernst R. Berndt and Alan G. White

No 9966, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Using a unique and comprehensive data source, we measure price changes for Microsoft's desktop personal computer software products during the time period July 1993 through June 2001. This paper contributes to a relatively small literature on price measurement of pre-packaged software by incorporating important channels of distribution, such as volume licensing and Original Equipment Manufacturer, as well as changes in product form, such as upgrades and integrated productivity suites, into matched-model price indexes. Although there are differences over time periods and across products, we find that the prices of Microsoft's desktop operating systems and applications have generally been falling over this time period.

JEL-codes: D4 E3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ino and nep-net
Date: Written 2003-09
Note: PR
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