Download PDF: Open Source and Open Standards: A New Frontier for Economic Development (408.9 kB)
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.