XU, Lei, Nian, Tingting and Cabral, Luis (2020) What makes geeks tick? A study of stack overflow careers. Management Science, vol. 66 (n° 2). pp. 587-604.

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Identification Number : 10.1287/mnsc.2018.3264

Abstract

Many online platforms rely on users to voluntarily provide content. What motivates users to contribute content for free however is not well understood. In this paper, we use a revealed preference
approach to show that career concerns play an important role in user contributions to Stack Overflow,
the largest online Q&A community. We investigate how activities that can enhance a user’s reputation
vary before and after the user finds a new job. We contrast this with activities that do not improve a user’s
reputation. After finding a new job, users contribute 23.7% less in reputation-generating activity. By contrast, they reduce their non-reputation-generating activity by only 7.4% after finding a new job. These
findings suggest that users contribute to Stack Overflow in part because they perceive this as a way to
improve future employment prospects. We provide direct evidence against alternative explanations such
as integer constraints, skills mismatch, and dynamic selection effects.

Item Type: Article
Language: English
Date: February 2020
Refereed: Yes
JEL Classification: D82 - Asymmetric and Private Information
D83 - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief
H41 - Public Goods
J22 - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
J24 - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
L86 - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software
M51 - Firm Employment Decisions; Promotions (hiring, firing, turnover, part-time, temporary workers, seniority issues)
Subjects: B- ECONOMIE ET FINANCE
Divisions: TSE-R (Toulouse)
Site: UT1
Date Deposited: 10 Dec 2020 15:46
Last Modified: 27 Oct 2021 13:37
OAI Identifier: oai:tse-fr.eu:122886
URI: https://publications.ut-capitole.fr/id/eprint/32258
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