Depken and Simmons (2004)
Contents
Source Details
Depken and Simmons (2004) | |
Title: | Social construct and the propensity for software piracy |
Author(s): | Depken, C. A., Simmons, L. C. |
Year: | 2004 |
Citation: | C. A. Depken II & L. C. Simmons (2004) Social construct and the propensity for software piracy, Applied Economics Letters, 11:2, 97-100. |
Link(s): | Definitive |
Key Related Studies: | |
Discipline: | |
Linked by: | Bezmen and Depken (2006) |
About the Data | |
Data Description: | The data describe 65 countries from 1994 and were obtained from the Business Software Alliance (1995), the Central Intelligence Agency and the International Monetary Fund. |
Data Type: | Secondary data |
Secondary Data Sources: | |
Data Collection Methods: | |
Data Analysis Methods: | |
Industry(ies): | |
Country(ies): | |
Cross Country Study?: | Yes |
Comparative Study?: | No |
Literature review?: | No |
Government or policy study?: | No |
Time Period(s) of Collection: |
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Funder(s): |
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Abstract
This study offers evidence that cross-country variation in software piracy is a combination of both traditional economic influences and institutional social mores. Software piracy rates are related to various economic variables and two measures of social construct. The study includes an individualism score, which measures horizontal social relationships, and a measure of power distance, measuring vertical social relationships. It is found that economic variables do play a role in the decision to pirate software and that increased power-distance, or the further individuals feel from their superiors, for example law enforcement officials, the greater the propensity to pirate software.
Main Results of the Study
This study extends the existing analysis by including an index that captures the structure of a country’s society and several economic variables thought to influence the decision to pirate software or not by showing that traditional economic variables are important in the (aggregate) decision to pirate software or not. More specifically, this study shows that:
- The propensity of certain countries to consistently expropriate software at a greater rate than other countries may have more to do with social construct.
- While economic variables seem to explain a portion of the cross-country variation in software piracy, also included in this study is the individualism score, the power distance measure and their interaction.
Policy Implications as Stated By Author
Efforts to enforce property rights across national borders may have limited impact if traditional economic choice variables are the focus of enforcement.
Coverage of Study
Datasets
Sample size: | 65 |
Level of aggregation: | Country |
Period of material under study: | 1994-2004 |