Patreonomics: Public goods pedagogy for economics principles

Franklin Mixon, Carlos Asarta and Steven B Caudill

International Review of Economics Education, 2017, vol. 25, issue C, 1-7

Abstract: A principles of economics course presents educators with an opportunity to connect with large numbers of students from diverse educational backgrounds and majors. This diversity, however, often makes it challenging for instructors to identify pedagogical examples that are relatable to the majority of their students. In this study, we present a timely and engaging example of a public good: Patreon music creations. Patreon is an Internet company that offers an outlet for musicians to share their YouTube-based music creations with their fans. We define and illustrate the characteristics that make these musical creations public goods, explaining also how fans willingly support these creations from a financial standpoint. This study provides educators with a unique real-world example that principles of economics students will find interesting, relatable, and educational.

Keywords: Open source music; Public goods; Free riding; Independent artists; Patreon; YouTube (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A22 H41 L17 L82 Z11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ireced:v:25:y:2017:i:c:p:1-7

DOI: 10.1016/j.iree.2017.02.001

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