The Times They Are A Changin’: Digital Content Supply Decisions of Students

Software for trading MP3s and other files across the Internet is transforming music and other digital information into public goods. However, the zero contribution thesis raises questions about why individuals would share files with others. This paper uses a logit model to identify factors shaping college students’ willingness to supply MP3s to others. In doing so, it finds evidence which supports reciprocity models of human behavior and suggests the unauthorized supply of digital files is more robust than might be indicated under conventional economic assumptions.