Transition of Governance in a Mature Open Software Source Community: Evidence from the Debian Case

As flourishing, productive open source software (OSS) communities mature, they have to introduce a variety of governance mechanisms to manage the participation of their members and to coordinate the launch of new releases. In contrast to other modes of governance of OSS communities, the Debian community introduced new mechanisms of informal administrative control based on a constitution, elected leaders and new functions attributed to interactive communication channels (like mailing lists or IRC channels) that can provide for community effects (and feedback). We show that these control mechanisms were introduced as a response to emerging innovative opportunities due the usage of source packages and heterogeneous learning processes by different groups within the Debian community.Open Source Software community, Governance Mechanism, Debian Community

Exploring the potential transition from strategic technology partnering to mergers and acquisitions

Abstract not availableresearch and development ;

Technological catch-up and strategic technology partnering in developing countries

This paper examines the trends in strategic technology partnering (STP) by firms from developing countries over the period 1980-94. The evidence shows that a small group of countries, namely the Asian NICs and Eastern Europe dominate STP activity. We also examine differences in organisational modes and how these have evolved over time, suggesting an increasing similarity between the NICs and Triad firms. Although it has been argued that these trends demonstrate the technological and economic falling behind of most developing countries, we suggest that it may also represent fundamental differences in the economic structure of these countries and the normal process of structural upgrading with development.research and development ;

Anatomy of a Public-Private Partnership: Hold-up and regulatory risk in an NGN PPP

In recent years, the preference for purely private funding and ownership of telecommunications networks has given way to a 'new wisdom' that some form of public funding is now necessary if faster and more capacious Next Generation Networks (NGNs) are to be constructed in a timely fashion. The relevant question for policymakers is how that public investment will take place. The preferred approach in most cases appears to be to by way of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) where public and private actors collaborate in NGN investment, construction and operation. However, the body of analysis of NGN PPPs to guide policy-makers is scant. This paper addresses the gap by applying the learnings from classic, more mature PPPs (e.g. roading) and applying them to the NGN context. We use a case study of New Zealand's Ultrafast Broadband Initiative PPPs - one of the first nationwide partnerships undertaken - to illustrate the relevance of the insights. We find that NGN PPPs reverse the typical direction of financing and ownership observed in roading PPPs. The bundling of design, financing construction and operation of classic PPPs is 'undone' in NGN PPPs, as financing and asset ownership are separated, increasing the potential for misalignment of incentives and the likelihood that the public party can hold up the private party once existing network assets are sunk in the partnership by altering regulatory settings. Whilst the government instigating the PPP may not be inclined to act opportunistically, a successive government facing different political priorities does not face the same incentives. To the extent that the private party can anticipate this risk, it should endeavour to include terms in the initial agreement ensuring that the public party is penalised if such an event occurs (i.e. an automatic right to favourable renegotiation or payment of compensation) so that such opportunism is discouraged and the project benefits from time-consistent alignment of incentives and objectives. Had such provisions been in place in the New Zealand PPPs, costly consequences of regulatory change threatening the completion of the NGN would have been avoided

Will they fly?: Different Forms of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in New Zealand's UFB Initiative

Starting in October 2009 with a tender ("Invitation to Participate") procedure the Ultra Fast Broadband (UFB) initiative the government of New Zealand intends to deliver fiber connections (i.e. 100Mbps/50Mbps) to 75 percent of New Zealanders by 2019. Broadband penetration levels in New Zealand have slowly been catching up compared to other high-income OECD economies. However currently it seems that the contribution of the UFB initiative to broadband penetration in New Zealand is not as expected. The article discusses the industry structure in the broadband market and the effects of regulation in New Zealand and relates this discussion to developments in the broadband sector in Europe. In this context the paper examines the different forms of PPPs in New Zealand's UFB initiative with respect to their (expected) effects on roll out of broadband in New Zealand. The paper builds on the literature on the appropriate contract choice in regulated markets (Demsetz 1968; Williamson 1976). Similar to Bettignies & Ross (2004) it focuses on the extent to which the relationship-specific investment and the complexity (or uncertainty) of the exchange environment has an impact on the form of PPPs (Bettignies & Ross 2004; Crocker & Masten 1996). It examines in greater detail the task and risk allocation in the different PPPs whereby the contracts between LFCs and CFH can be considered as a joint venture and the agreements between Chorus and CFH as more contractual forms. We conclude that problems with the UFB initiative might emerge as the demand risks are not sufficiently specified which might slow broadband adoption in New Zealand

Should next generation access networks fall within the scope of universal service? A EU 27 perspective

The review of the Universal Service Obligation (USO) has recently been debated in the European Union (EU). Under discussion there was the extension of the current universal service definition to include broadband access, for which some theoretical and empirical support exists. In fact the determinants of information access, which are modified by market liberalization and technological developments, challenge the traditional definition of universal service and question whether there are new frontiers for the USO in the EU. This paper looks at the origins, the theoretical arguments for, and the empirical basis of the USO in the light of the ongoing debate in the EU, and links these arguments to technological development and changing demand conditions in European broadband markets. The authors predict the inclusion of a wider set of services based on Next Generation Access networks in the EU's new regulatory approach, although in November 2011 the European Union has denied this inclusion

Will they fly?: Different Forms of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in New Zealand's UFB Initiative

Starting in October 2009 with a tender ("Invitation to Participate") procedure the Ultra Fast Broadband (UFB) initiative the government of New Zealand intends to deliver fiber connections (i.e. 100Mbps/50Mbps) to 75 percent of New Zealanders by 2019. Broadband penetration levels in New Zealand have slowly been catching up compared to other high-income OECD economies. However currently it seems that the contribution of the UFB initiative to broadband penetration in New Zealand is not as expected. The article discusses the industry structure in the broadband market and the effects of regulation in New Zealand and relates this discussion to developments in the broadband sector in Europe. In this context the paper examines the different forms of PPPs in New Zealand's UFB initiative with respect to their (expected) effects on roll out of broadband in New Zealand. The paper builds on the literature on the appropriate contract choice in regulated markets (Demsetz 1968; Williamson 1976). Similar to Bettignies & Ross (2004) it focuses on the extent to which the relationship-specific investment and the complexity (or uncertainty) of the exchange environment has an impact on the form of PPPs (Bettignies & Ross 2004; Crocker & Masten 1996). It examines in greater detail the task and risk allocation in the different PPPs whereby the contracts between LFCs and CFH can be considered as a joint venture and the agreements between Chorus and CFH as more contractual forms. We conclude that problems with the UFB initiative might emerge as the demand risks are not sufficiently specified which might slow broadband adoption in New Zealand

The impact of ICT goods exports and environmental technology innovation on mineral rents:Evidence from OECD countries

This study investigates the effects of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) goods exports and environmental technology innovation (ETI) on mineral rents using a panel dataset of 23 OECD countries from 2000 to 2020. Employing a fixed-effects regression and several robustness checks (FGLS, PCSE, and DKSE), we find that ICT goods exports are positively associated with mineral rents, while ETI exerts a negative impact. Notably, the positive effect of ICT goods exports was more pronounced in countries with higher levels of ICT goods exports. Our findings underscore the complex interplay among technological advancements, environmental sustainability, and economic outcomes in resource-dependent economies, emphasizing the need for tailored policy interventions to navigate these multifaceted dynamics.</p