A pricing mechanism for digital content distribution over computer networks
成果类型：
Article; Proceedings Paper
署名作者：
Lang, KR; Vragov, R
署名单位：
City University of New York (CUNY) System; Baruch College (CUNY)
刊物名称：
JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
ISSN/ISSBN：
0742-1222
DOI：
10.1080/07421222.2005.11045846
发表日期：
2005
页码：
121-139
关键词：
摘要：
This paper uses modified economic growth theory to compare and contrast two currently available ways of digital content distribution: the client-server model and the peer-to-peer (P2P) model. We describe a monopolistic pricing scheme for distributing digital content over P2P networks that rewards peer users who actively participate in the distribution process. Our results show that digital distribution through a P2P network is more profitable and more efficient than in the corresponding client-server setting, if the pricing mechanism used provides strong incentives to users to share content. The basic results hold when the model is extended to include time-variant preferences across generations of consumers, and when the monopolist performs price discrimination based on generations. Some practical implications from the theoretical analysis are also discussed.