softwareeconomie

Softwareeconomie is the branch of economics that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of software and the institutions that shape its markets. It analyzes how software products and services are created, priced, and deployed, and how information goods with high fixed costs and low marginal costs influence competition, innovation, and welfare. The field covers software as a tangible product, as a service, and as a platform upon which other products and services are built.

Key features include the value of software as an intangible asset, rapid depreciation for consumer software vs. long maintenance cycles for enterprise systems, strong network effects, and platform dynamics that encourage ecosystem formation. Delivery models such as software as a service (SaaS), cloud computing, and app stores have transformed pricing, updating, and customer relationships, often involving subscription or usage-based pricing and frequent updates. Open source licensing, proprietary rights, and intellectual property regimes shape market structure and incentives for investment and R&D.

Market structure in software industries is influenced by switching costs, compatibility, standards, and interoperability. Competition policy addresses vendor lock-in, bundling, interoperability, and antitrust concerns in dominant platform markets. The software economy also intersects with productivity, digital transformation, and labor markets, recognizing that software enables productivity gains and new business models.

Measurement challenges include valuing intangible assets, estimating R&D spillovers, and capturing platform effects. The field draws on economics of innovation, industrial organization, and information economics to understand how software reshapes markets and society.