Network Externality: An Uncommon Tragedy
Journal of Economic Perspectives
vol. 8,
no. 2, Spring 1994
(pp. 133-150)
(Complimentary)
Abstract
Economists have defined 'network externality' and have examined putative inframarginal market failures associated with it. This paper distinguishes between network effects and network externalities, where the latter are market failures. The authors argue that while network effects are important, network externalities are theoretically fragile and empirically undocumented. Some network externalities are merely pecuniary. Network ownership or transactions among network participants can internalize some network effects. The type of market failure that has been associated with these externalities is a transition problem that has little to do with externality.Citation
Liebowitz, S. J., and Stephen E. Margolis. 1994. "Network Externality: An Uncommon Tragedy." Journal of Economic Perspectives, 8 (2): 133-150. DOI: 10.1257/jep.8.2.133JEL Classification
- L11 Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
- L23 Organization of Production
- L13 Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
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