Research on theoretical, empirical and public policy issues of technological standards in computing and communications is producing a growing body of important literature, a part of which deals with understanding the process of standardization and the impact of standards on technological progress and economic efficiency. This workshop seeks: to assess the contributions of recent research in this area, from presentations of papers by representative leading researchers in economics and related disciplines; to facilitate and clarify examination of these issues by developing some basic conceptual and terminological guideposts for this young research area; and to identify the most promising theoretical and empirical research questions relevant to the policy issues surrounding standardization. The workshop will be limited to about 24 participants and will be held in mid-June, 1988 at Stanford University. The eleven papers presented at the workshop will be reproduced as part of Stanford University's Center for Economic Policy Research's Discussion and Technical Paper Series.
