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Externalities in Knowledge Production: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment

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  • Hinnosaar, Marit
  • Hinnosaar, Toomas
  • Kummer, Michael
  • Slivko, Olga

Abstract

Do contributions to online content platforms induce a feedback loop of ever more user-generated content or will they discourage future contributions? To assess this, we use a randomized field experiment which added content to some pages in Wikipedia while leaving similar pages unchanged. We find that adding content has a negligible impact on the subsequent long-run growth of content. Our results have implications for information seeding and incentivizing contributions, implying that additional content does not generate sizable externalities, neither by inspiring nor by discouraging future contributions.

Suggested Citation

  • Hinnosaar, Marit & Hinnosaar, Toomas & Kummer, Michael & Slivko, Olga, 2019. "Externalities in Knowledge Production: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment," CEPR Discussion Papers 13575, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:13575
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    Cited by:

    1. Abhishek Nagaraj, 2021. "Information Seeding and Knowledge Production in Online Communities: Evidence from OpenStreetMap," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(8), pages 4908-4934, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    User-generated content; Knowledge accumulation; Wikipedia;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L17 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Open Source Products and Markets
    • L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments

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