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Motivation and sorting in open source software innovation

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  • Belenzon, Sharon
  • Schankerman, Mark

Abstract

This paper studies the role of intrinsic motivation, reputation and reciprocity in driving open source software innovation. We exploit the observed pattern of contributions – the ‘revealed preference’ of developers – to infer the underlying incentives. Using detailed information on code contributions and project membership, we classify developers into distinct groups and study how contributions from each developer type vary by license (contract) type and other project characteristics. The central empirical finding is that developers strongly sort by license type, project size and corporate sponsorship. This evidence confirms the importance of heterogeneous motivations, specifically a key role for motivated agents and reputation, but less for reciprocity.

Suggested Citation

  • Belenzon, Sharon & Schankerman, Mark, 2008. "Motivation and sorting in open source software innovation," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 25476, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:25476
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/25476/
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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas Fackler & Nadzeya Laurentsyeva, 2020. "Gravity in Online Collaborations: Evidence from GitHub," CESifo Forum, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 21(03), pages 15-20, September.
    2. Matthias Walther, 2010. "Corruption in Open-Source Software Organisations: A Theoretical Framework," Working Papers halshs-00690332, HAL.
    3. Abou El-Komboz, Lena & Fackler, Thomas, 2022. "Productivity Spillovers among Knowledge Workers in Agglomerations: Evidence from GitHub," VfS Annual Conference 2022 (Basel): Big Data in Economics 264083, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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