The Economics of Compatibility Standards¶
David, P. A., & Greenstein, S. (1990). The Economics of Compatibility Standards: An Introduction to Recent Research. Economics of Innovation and New Technology, 1(1), 3-41.
Cited by¶
3 citations across 3 artifacts.
Each citation links to the sentence it supports in the citing article.
Primes¶
- Sponsor Vacuum
- In standards-setting it is the committee with formal authority that stops convening, leaving vendors to proliferate de-facto standards.
This sourceShows that when a formal standards body fails to converge, vendors proliferate de-facto standards.
- In standards-setting it is the committee with formal authority that stops convening, leaving vendors to proliferate de-facto standards.
- Standardization
- In technology it is the engine of the digital and physical infrastructure: TCP/IP standardized how independently-built machines exchange packets, USB standardized the connector so any device plugs into any port, HTTP and HTML standardized the web, and shipping containers standardized cargo dimensions so any container fits any ship, crane, and truck — in each, the value is overwhelmingly in the sharing, and the standards bodies (IETF, ISO, USB-IF) exist to manufacture the agreement.
This sourceSurveys de jure versus de facto standard-setting, standards bodies, and the economics of compatibility across technology — the four standardization processes (unsponsored market, sponsored proprietary, voluntary standards bodies, government promulgation).
Supported in partVerified against the publisher's abstract
Its abstract gives the four-part taxonomy of standards-setting, including voluntary standards bodies and government promulgation — but not legitimacy or adoption effects.
“Standardization processes of four kinds are examined, namely: (1) market competition involving products embodying unsponsored standards, (2) market competition among sponsored (proprietary) standards, (3) agreements within voluntary standards-writing organizations, a18d (4) direct governmental promulgation.”
- In technology it is the engine of the digital and physical infrastructure: TCP/IP standardized how independently-built machines exchange packets, USB standardized the connector so any device plugs into any port, HTTP and HTML standardized the web, and shipping containers standardized cargo dimensions so any container fits any ship, crane, and truck — in each, the value is overwhelmingly in the sharing, and the standards bodies (IETF, ISO, USB-IF) exist to manufacture the agreement.
Mechanisms¶
- Standards Body
- Its neutrality is what lets a standard become a shared commons — a genuine de jure standard maintained by a recognized authority — rather than a de facto standard controlled by whoever has the largest market share.
This sourceDistinguishes de jure standards established through recognized standard-setting institutions from de facto standards that arise through market adoption and control.
- Its neutrality is what lets a standard become a shared commons — a genuine de jure standard maintained by a recognized authority — rather than a de facto standard controlled by whoever has the largest market share.
Verification¶
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