From GitHub to GDP: A framework for measuring open source software innovation

Gizem Korkmaz, J. Bayoán Santiago Calderón, Brandon L. Kramer, Ledia Guci and Carol A. Robbins

Research Policy, 2024, vol. 53, issue 3

Abstract: Open source software (OSS) is software that anyone can review, modify, and distribute freely, usually with only minor restrictions such as giving credit to the creator of the work. The use of OSS is growing rapidly, due to its value in increasing firm and economy-wide productivity. Despite its widespread use, there is no standardized methodology for measuring the scope and impact of this fundamental intangible asset. This study presents a framework to measure the value of OSS using data collected from GitHub, the largest platform in the world with over 100 million developers. The data include over 7.6 million repositories where software is developed, stored, and managed. We collect information about contributors and development activity such as code changes and license detail. By adopting a cost estimation model from software engineering, we develop a methodology to generate estimates of investment in OSS that are consistent with the U.S. national accounting methods used for measuring software investment. We generate annual estimates of current and inflation-adjusted investment as well as the net stock of OSS for the 2009–2019 period. Our estimates show that the U.S. investment in 2019 was $37.8 billion with a current-cost net stock of $74.3 billion.

Keywords: Open source software; Cost measurement; GitHub; Innovation; Gross domestic product; Software investment; National accounts (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C82 E22 H42 L17 O3 O51 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:respol:v:53:y:2024:i:3:s0048733324000039

DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2024.104954

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