Research Reports

This paper aims to review the literature in order to sift out what — substantively — has been learned over the past ten years about the actual economic benefits, if any, of applying open licences to educational materials. It focuses on two specific aspects of OER: (1) course materials design and development and (2) the educational textbook market. It presents a brief review of literature and then explores in more detail a few case studies that provide greater insight into the potential economics of OER. Whilst this paper, which is based exclusively on desk research, is not able to provide conclusive evidence about the economic potential or otherwise of OER, it does indicate some clear trends and points the way to further, more detailed research that is now needed.