An Empirical Examination of Factors Influencing Participant Behavior in Crowdfunded Markets

Abstract

Crowdfunded marketplaces have recently emerged as a novel avenue for entrepreneurs to raise capital in support of innovative ideas and ventures. In these markets, any individual can propose a project, and interested others can contribute their funds to support it. The economic potential of these markets has recently become apparent and, as a result they have begun gaining significant attention from legislators and regulators, who see crowdfunding as a possible solution to the economic woes currently facing the country. However, the behavior of participants in these marketplaces, a key factor that must be accounted for in any effort to formulate policy or regulation, or to identify appropriate design practices, remains poorly understood, primarily due to the many novelties of crowdfunding. Bearing in mind the need to ensure crowdfunding's sustainability as an industry, the formulation of policy and regulation, as well as best practices for participants, I report on three empirical studies that seek to identify and quantify a variety of important aspects of, and influences upon, participant behavior in crowdfunded markets. These three studies, presented as separate essays herein, i) explore the influence upon subsequent contributors from social information about prior others' actions, ii) examine the frictions that arise due to cultural differences between and amongst users, and iii) assess crowdfunders' use of information-hiding mechanisms, and the subsequent impact on later contributors in the market. In regard to each, I discuss the relevant theory, the methodology, data sources, results and implications. I conclude by highlighting the contributions of my work, and possible avenues for future research.