IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/joreco/v85y2025ics0969698925000669.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How does blockchain mitigate false advertising in live streaming E-commerce? A tripartite stochastic evolutionary game approach

Author

Listed:
  • Wang, Ruipeng
  • Tai, Yuhong

Abstract

The rapid rise of live-streaming e-commerce, particularly in China, has transformed consumer shopping experiences; however, it has also introduced challenges such as false advertising and distorted product information. This study explores how blockchain technology can address these issues within the live-streaming e-commerce ecosystem. Using a tripartite evolutionary game model involving e-commerce platforms, merchants, and consumers, we apply stochastic differential equations to analyze the stability of strategic behaviors and dynamics of false advertising. Key findings include: (1) In high-commission environments, platforms and merchants are better aligned, increasing the likelihood of merchants adopting truthful advertising strategies. (2) In high-profit environments, the temptation for merchants to engage in false advertising rises, prompting platforms to adopt blockchain technology to maintain transparency. (3) Although blockchain technology adoption enhances platform reputation over the long term, its direct impact on merchants’ advertising strategies is limited. (4) Regulatory measures such as fines and consumer reporting rewards promote blockchain technology adoption and reduce false advertising. These findings provide valuable insights for enhancing the credibility of live-streaming e-commerce and offer guidance for platforms on balancing technology adoption with regulatory efforts to foster sustainable industry development.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Ruipeng & Tai, Yuhong, 2025. "How does blockchain mitigate false advertising in live streaming E-commerce? A tripartite stochastic evolutionary game approach," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:joreco:v:85:y:2025:i:c:s0969698925000669
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jretconser.2025.104287
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969698925000669
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jretconser.2025.104287?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kim, Sanghyun & Park, Hyunsun, 2013. "Effects of various characteristics of social commerce (s-commerce) on consumers’ trust and trust performance," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 318-332.
    2. Xin, Baogui & Song, Yaping & Tan, Hui & Peng, Wei, 2025. "Sustainable digital fashion in a metaverse ecosystem," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    3. Bazi, Saleh & Filieri, Raffaele & Gorton, Matthew, 2023. "Social media content aesthetic quality and customer engagement: The mediating role of entertainment and impacts on brand love and loyalty," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    4. Ji Jiang & Jin Chen, 2021. "Framework of Blockchain-Supported E-Commerce Platform for Small and Medium Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-14, July.
    5. Runliang Dou & Guofang Nan & Ziqian Wei & Chia-Yu Hsu, 2024. "Value co-creation in group enterprises: an evolutionary game theory-based analysis," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 62(17), pages 6186-6210, September.
    6. Ritzberger, Klaus & Weibull, Jorgen W, 1995. "Evolutionary Selection in Normal-Form Games," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 63(6), pages 1371-1399, November.
    7. Jun Du & Jiejie Li & Jiaxin Li & Weiduo Li, 2023. "Competition–cooperation mechanism of online supply chain finance based on a stochastic evolutionary game," Operational Research, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 1-28, September.
    8. Qingfeng Zeng & Qian Guo & Wei Zhuang & Yu Zhang & Weiguo Fan, 2023. "Do Real-Time Reviews Matter? Examining how Bullet Screen Influences Consumers’ Purchase Intention in Live Streaming Commerce," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 25(5), pages 2051-2067, October.
    9. Honglu Wang & Min Zhang & Hao Ying & Xiande Zhao, 2021. "The impact of blockchain technology on consumer behavior: a multimethod study," Journal of Management Analytics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(3), pages 371-390, July.
    10. Fuli Zhou & Chenchen Zhang & Tianfu Chen & Ming K. Lim, 2023. "An evolutionary game analysis on blockchain technology adoption in cross-border e-commerce," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 1766-1780, December.
    11. Moghaddam, Saeed Zolfaghari & Akbari, Tohid, 2018. "Network-constrained optimal bidding strategy of a plug-in electric vehicle aggregator: A stochastic/robust game theoretic approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 478-489.
    12. Zhou, Min & Yin, Jia & Tang, Yu & Yi, Huan & Kong, Nan & Campy, Kathryn S., 2024. "What drives the drivers away? An empirical study on the factors influencing the turnover intention of full-time online ride-hailing drivers in China," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    13. Binmore, Ken, 1988. "Modeling Rational Players: Part II," Economics and Philosophy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 4(1), pages 9-55, April.
    14. Tianshi Li & Wenli Li & Yuqing Zhao & Jingpei Ma, 2023. "Rationality manipulation during consumer decision-making process: an analysis of Alibaba’s online shopping carnival," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 331-364, March.
    15. Luo, Lijuan & Xu, Meiling & Zheng, Yujie, 2024. "Informative or affective? Exploring the effects of streamers’ topic types on user engagement in live streaming commerce," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    16. Yao, Shiqing & Zhu, Kaijie, 2020. "Combating product label misconduct: The role of traceability and market inspection," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 282(2), pages 559-568.
    17. Herbert A. Simon, 1955. "A Behavioral Model of Rational Choice," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 69(1), pages 99-118.
    18. Xin, Baogui & Hao, Yaru & Xie, Lei, 2023. "Strategic product showcasing mode of E-commerce live streaming," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    19. Lin William Cong & Zhiguo He, 2019. "Blockchain Disruption and Smart Contracts," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 32(5), pages 1754-1797.
    20. Mingwei Li & Qingjin Wang & Ying Cao, 2022. "Understanding Consumer Online Impulse Buying in Live Streaming E-Commerce: A Stimulus-Organism-Response Framework," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-17, April.
    21. Liang Shen & Yuanyuan Chen & Runjie Fan & Yuyan Wang & Baogui Xin, 2021. "Government Supervision on Explosive Enterprises’ Immoral Behaviors in E-Commerce Enterprises: An Evolutionary Game Analysis," Complexity, Hindawi, vol. 2021, pages 1-11, June.
    22. John Conlisk, 1996. "Why Bounded Rationality?," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 34(2), pages 669-700, June.
    23. Qiang Wang & Nenggui Zhao & Xiang Ji, 2024. "Reselling or agency selling? The strategic role of live streaming commerce in distribution contract selection," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 983-1016, June.
    24. Shengliang Zhang & Chaoying Huang & Xiaodong Li & Ai Ren, 2022. "Characteristics and roles of streamers in e-commerce live streaming," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(13-14), pages 1001-1029, October.
    25. Manes, Eran & Tchetchik, Anat, 2018. "The role of electronic word of mouth in reducing information asymmetry: An empirical investigation of online hotel booking," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 185-196.
    26. Mahdi Shadkam & James O’Hara, 2013. "Social Commerce Dimensions: The Potential Leverage for Marketers," Journal of Internet Banking and Commerce, Nahum Goldmann, vol. 18(1), pages 01-14.
    27. Li, Cui & Li, Hong & Tao, Changqi, 2023. "Evolutionary game of platform enterprises, government and consumers in the context of digital economy," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    28. Xu, Xiaoping & Chen, Xinru & Hou, Jinyan & Cheng, T.C.E. & Yu, Yugang & Zhou, Li, 2025. "Should live streaming be adopted for agricultural supply chain considering platform’s quality improvement and blockchain support?," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    29. Daniel Kahneman, 2003. "Maps of Bounded Rationality: Psychology for Behavioral Economics," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 93(5), pages 1449-1475, December.
    30. Yuan, Haixia & Lü, Kevin & Fang, Wenting, 2025. "Machines vs. humans: The evolving role of artificial intelligence in livestreaming e-commerce," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    31. Hanyang Luo & Sijia Cheng & Wanhua Zhou & Sumin Yu & Xudong Lin, 2021. "A Study on the Impact of Linguistic Persuasive Styles on the Sales Volume of Live Streaming Products in Social E-Commerce Environment," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(13), pages 1-21, July.
    32. Di, Xuan & Liu, Henry X., 2016. "Boundedly rational route choice behavior: A review of models and methodologies," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 142-179.
    33. Li, Dengjia & Ma, Chaoqun & Li, Hao & Yang, Jinglan, 2024. "The adoption of blockchain and financing constraints: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PB).
    34. Yannopoulou, Natalia & Chandrasapth, Koblarp & Bian, Xuemei & Jin, Boyi & Gupta, Suraksha & Liu, Martin J., 2024. "How Disinformation Affects Sales: Examining the Advertising Campaign of a Socially Responsible Brand," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    35. Teck Ming Tan & Jari Salo, 2023. "Ethical Marketing in the Blockchain-Based Sharing Economy: Theoretical Integration and Guiding Insights," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 183(4), pages 1113-1140, April.
    36. Salvatore Piccolo & Piero Tedeschi & Giovanni Ursino, 2015. "How limiting deceptive practices harms consumers," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 46(3), pages 611-624, September.
    37. ., 1999. "Bounded rationality," Chapters, in: The Economics of the Mind, chapter 4, pages 41-49, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    38. Wen Lin & David L. Ortega & Danielle Ufer & Vincenzina Caputo & Titus Awokuse, 2022. "Blockchain‐based traceability and demand for U.S. beef in China," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(1), pages 253-272, March.
    39. Hubert Pun & Jayashankar M. Swaminathan & Pengwen Hou, 2021. "Blockchain Adoption for Combating Deceptive Counterfeits," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 30(4), pages 864-882, April.
    40. Lingxiu Dong & Puping (Phil) Jiang & Fasheng Xu, 2023. "Impact of Traceability Technology Adoption in Food Supply Chain Networks," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(3), pages 1518-1535, March.
    41. Zhou, Min & Zhao, Lindu & Kong, Nan & Campy, Kathryn S. & Xu, Ge & Zhu, Guiju & Cao, Xianye & Wang, Song, 2020. "Understanding consumers’ behavior to adopt self-service parcel services for last-mile delivery," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    42. Chen, Jianyu & Gong, Xiushuang & Ren, Rui, 2023. "Active or avoidance coping? Influencing mechanisms of streamers' coping strategies on viewers’ word of mouth after livestreaming e-commerce failures," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    43. Fan, Xiaojun & Zhang, Lu & Guo, Xin & Zhao, Wenyu, 2024. "The impact of live-streaming interactivity on live-streaming sales mode based on game-theoretic analysis," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    44. Li, Li & Chen, Xiaoting & Zhu, Peng, 2024. "How do e-commerce anchors' characteristics influence consumers’ impulse buying? An emotional contagion perspective," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    45. Gao, Wei & Jiang, Ning & Guo, Qingqing, 2023. "How do virtual streamers affect purchase intention in the live streaming context? A presence perspective," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    46. Zheng, Shiyong & Chen, Jiada & Liao, Junyun & Hu, Hsin-Li, 2023. "What motivates users' viewing and purchasing behavior motivations in live streaming: A stream-streamer-viewer perspective," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    47. Abderahman Rejeb & John G. Keogh & Suhaiza Zailani & Horst Treiblmaier & Karim Rejeb, 2020. "Blockchain Technology in the Food Industry: A Review of Potentials, Challenges and Future Research Directions," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 4(4), pages 1-26, October.
    48. Aiello, Giuseppe & Enea, Mario & Muriana, Cinzia, 2015. "The expected value of the traceability information," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 244(1), pages 176-186.
    49. Peng, Lifang & Zhang, Na & Huang, Ling, 2024. "How the source dynamism of streamers affects purchase intention in live streaming e-commerce: Considering the moderating effect of Chinese consumers’ gender," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    50. Wu, Bin & Cheng, Jing & Qi, Yuqing, 2020. "Tripartite evolutionary game analysis for “Deceive acquaintances” behavior of e-commerce platforms in cooperative supervision," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 550(C).
    51. Dai, Jiansheng & Zhang, Xinyu, 2025. "Impact of vendor preferences on Commission Policy of E-Commerce platform," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 322(3), pages 841-853.
    52. Akerlof, George A & Yellen, Janet L, 1987. "Rational Models of Irrational Behavior," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 77(2), pages 137-142, May.
    53. Poddar, Amit & Banerjee, Syagnik & Sridhar, Karthik, 2019. "False advertising or slander? Using location based tweets to assess online rating-reliability," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 390-397.
    54. Qingfeng Zhu & Rui Zong & Mengqi Xu, 2023. "Three-Party Stochastic Evolutionary Game Analysis of Supply Chain Finance Based on Blockchain Technology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-20, February.
    55. Ji, Guojun & Fu, Tianyu & Li, Shuhao, 2023. "Optimal selling format considering price discount strategy in live-streaming commerce," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 309(2), pages 529-544.
    56. Liu, Xingfen & Zhou, Zhongbao & Zhong, Feimin & Hu, Minhui, 2024. "Resolving the information reliability issue in live streaming through blockchain adoption," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    57. Piramuthu, Selwyn & Farahani, Poorya & Grunow, Martin, 2013. "RFID-generated traceability for contaminated product recall in perishable food supply networks," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 225(2), pages 253-262.
    58. Yuguang Song & Jia Liu & Wen Zhang & Jian Li, 2023. "Blockchain’s role in e-commerce sellers’ decision-making on information disclosure under competition," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 329(1), pages 1009-1048, October.
    59. Dehghani, Milad & William Kennedy, Ryan & Mashatan, Atefeh & Rese, Alexandra & Karavidas, Dionysios, 2022. "High interest, low adoption. A mixed-method investigation into the factors influencing organisational adoption of blockchain technology," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 393-411.
    60. Zhang, Haiyue & Sui, Ronghua & Zha, Xiaoyu, 2025. "The key opinion leader introduction and pricing strategy for live streaming e-commerce platforms considering the impact of network effects," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Liu, Hao & Zhang, Peilin & Cheng, Hongqing & Hasan, Najmul & Chiong, Raymond, 2025. "Impact of AI-generated virtual streamer interaction on consumer purchase intention: A focus on social presence and perceived value," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    2. Awasthy, Prakash & Haldar, Tanushree & Ghosh, Debabrata, 2025. "Blockchain enabled traceability — An analysis of pricing and traceability effort decisions in supply chains," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 321(3), pages 760-774.
    3. Lingxiu Dong & Puping (Phil) Jiang & Fasheng Xu, 2023. "Impact of Traceability Technology Adoption in Food Supply Chain Networks," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(3), pages 1518-1535, March.
    4. Fan, Xiaojun & Tao, Wenxia & Yu, Haowei & Wang, Zheng, 2025. "The higher the better? A study on the dark side of high engagement atmosphere in live streaming sales on consumer post-purchase satisfaction," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    5. Hu, Hai-hua & Ma, Fang, 2023. "Human-like bots are not humans: The weakness of sensory language for virtual streamers in livestream commerce," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    6. Ma, Xiangyang & Chen, Hongzhong & Lang, Xiaoping & Li, Tieshan & Wu, Niwei & Duong, Bao, 2024. "Research on the impact of streamers’ linguistic emotional valence on live streaming performance in live streaming shopping environments," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    7. Li, Nianlin & Xuan, Changchun & Chen, Rui, 2024. "Different roles of two kinds of digital coexistence: The impact of social presence on consumers' purchase intention in the live streaming shopping context," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    8. Robin Maximilian Stetzka & Stefan Winter, 2023. "How rational is gambling?," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(4), pages 1432-1488, September.
    9. David Stadelmann & Benno Torgler, 2012. "Bounded Rationality and Voting Decisions Exploring a 160-Year Period," Working Papers 2012.70, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    10. Zhang, Liangbo & Wang, Xueying & Majeed, Salman & Zhou, Zhimin, 2025. "How do sales promotions, communication agents, and psychological contracts determine purchase hesitation? Evidence from live stream influencers’ fan groups," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    11. Wang, Ying & Lan, Jiahui & Pan, Jialing & Fang, Lin, 2024. "How do consumers’ attitudes differ across their basic characteristics toward live-streaming commerce of green agricultural products: A preliminary exploration based on correspondence analysis, logis," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    12. Yifan Xu & Jingyu Qi & Jiahao Kong & Weisi Zhang, 2024. "Strategic decision making in live streaming e-commerce through tripartite evolutionary game analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(7), pages 1-32, July.
    13. Nguyen, N.P. & Shortle, J.S. & Reed, P.M. & Nguyen, T.T., 2013. "Water quality trading with asymmetric information, uncertainty and transaction costs: A stochastic agent-based simulation," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 60-90.
    14. Montecchi, Matteo & Plangger, Kirk & West, Douglas C., 2021. "Supply chain transparency: A bibliometric review and research agenda," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 238(C).
    15. Wu, Jianghua & Cheng, Hongya & Li, Luyao, 2024. "Blockchain-enabled downward traceability to combat gray market," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    16. Zhen, Xueping & Wang, Ping & Li, Xinran, 2024. "The Streamer's sales strategy choice considering sales effort," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    17. Baumgartner, Nora & Sloot, Daniel & Günther, Anne & Hahnel, Ulf J.J., 2025. "Development and test of a dual-pathway model of personal and community factors driving new energy technology adoption - The case of V2G in three European countries," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    18. Jianghua Wu & Xin Wang, 2025. "Platform-leading blockchain adoption for traceability under upstream competition," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 348(3), pages 2107-2143, May.
    19. Cattaneo, Andrea & Robinson, Sherman, 2000. "Empirical models, rules, and optimization," TMD discussion papers 53, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    20. Niclas Berggren, 2012. "Time for behavioral political economy? An analysis of articles in behavioral economics," The Review of Austrian Economics, Springer;Society for the Development of Austrian Economics, vol. 25(3), pages 199-221, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:joreco:v:85:y:2025:i:c:s0969698925000669. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-retailing-and-consumer-services .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.