2007/09/01 by James R. Wolf, Thomas E. Portegys · 1 citation
Business, Management and Accounting · Computer Science · Engineering · #Adaptation (eye) #Computer science #Digital Platforms and Economics #Economics #Externality #Game theory #ICT Impact and Policies #Imperfect #Microeconomics #Network effect #Non-cooperative game #Open Source Software Innovations #Perfect information #Sequential game #The Internet #World Wide Web
paper · pdf · doi:10.1287/ited.8.1.49
openalex publication_date 2007/09/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/15
This paper describes a customizable classroom game used to demonstrate the effects of network externalities on the adoption of new technologies. The game is a web-based adaptation of Ruebeck et al.'s [Ruebeck, C. S., N. Stafford, W. Tynan, G. Alpert, Ball, B. Butkevich. 2003. Network externalities and standardization: A classroom demonstration. Southern Econom. J. 69 1000–1008] network externalities game. The web-based game is freely available and can be played in a networked lab setting or via the Internet. In this game, players choose one of a number of competing technologies whose utility depends on the number of others choosing the same technology. In subsequent variations, we introduce sequential choice, imperfect information, heterogeneity, “lock-in,” and switching costs.