[Wikipedia-l] Alan Greenspan needs to learn about Wikipedia

[Jimmy Wales]

http://www.federalreserve.gov/BoardDocs/speeches/2003/20030404/default.htm

>For example, though the set up cost of creating an on-line
>encyclopedia may be enormous, the cost of reproduction and
>distribution may be near zero if the means of distribution is the
>Internet. The emergence of an electronic platform for the transmission
>of ideas at negligible marginal cost may therefore be an important
>factor explaining the recent increased conceptualization of the
>GDP. The demand for conceptual products is clearly impeded to a much
>smaller degree by rising marginal cost than is the demand for physical
>products.

The cost isn't *that* enormous, of course, when a free license
empowers volunteers.