Title
Open Source and OpenStandards: A New Frontier for Economic Development?
Author
Rishab Aiyer Ghosh, Seniorresearcher at UNU-MERIT, TheNetherlands, and Philipp Schmidt, Researcher at UNU-MERIT, The Netherlands
Date
12/12/2007
(Original Publish Date: 2006)
(Original Publish Date: 2006)
Abstract
There are compelling reasons why technologically advanced and developing countries alike should adopt open source software as part of their ICT policies. In addition to the obvious cost advantages, recent studies of free/libre/open source (FLOSS) communities demonstrate that the process of learning and adapting software enables users to become ‘creators of knowledge’ rather than mere passive consumers of proprietary technologies. This Brief discusses the economic benefits of investing in open source software and points out some key factors that governments should take into account when defining “Open Standards” to govern technology transfer and enhance access to public information for all citizens.
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