Linux vs. Windows: A comparison of application and platform innovation incentives for open source and proprietary software platforms

Nicholas S. Economides () and Evangelos Katsamakas
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Evangelos Katsamakas: Fordham University

No 05-07, Working Papers from NET Institute

Abstract: The paper analyzes and compares the investment incentives of platform and application developers for Linux and Windows. We find that the level of investment in applications is larger when the operating system is open source rather than proprietary. The comparison of the levels of investment in the operating systems depends, among others, on reputation effects and the number of developers. The paper also develops a short case study comparing Windows and Linux and identifies new directions for open source software research.

JEL-codes: L10 L86 L31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ict and nep-ino
Date: 2005-10, Revised 2005-10
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Related works:
Working Paper: Linux vs. Windows: A comparison of application and platform innovation incentives for open source and proprietary software platforms+ (2005)
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