Neither Market nor Hierarchy nor Network: The Emergence of Bazaar Governance
基于交易成本经济学，提出开源项目体现了一种新的通用治理结构：集市治理，其特征是低控制、弱激励，但能通过开放产生正网络外部性，提高累积交易效率。
A growing body of literature describes the open source phenomenon in the software industry. Drawing on transaction cost economics, we propose that open source projects illustrate a new generic governance structure — which we label bazaar governance — based on a specific legal contract: the open licence. We characterize this structure in terms of its strengths and weaknesses and compare it to market, firm and network forms. Low levels of control and weak incentives intensity are distinctive features of bazaar, lending a high uncertainty to governed transactions. However, bazaar governance promotes the openness of open source communities, which can generate strong positive network externalities and subsequent efficiency in cumulative transactions. Our theoretical developments offer a potential basis for future research.