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The never-ending book: the role of new material and peer feedback in user-generated content production

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  • Maria Marchenko

    (Independent researcher)

  • Hendrik Sonnabend

    (University of Hagen)

Abstract

This paper studies the determinants of the voluntary provision of user-generated (online) content. Using data from the largest fanfiction website, we find that writers respond differently to new original material: writing times increase for the average writer and even more for the elite of prolific writers. We explain this finding with quality concerns. In addition, we find supportive evidence that community feedback encourages first-time contributors to continue publishing. However, for more established writers, community feedback has a rather dampening effect on text lengths and writing times. These effects are more pronounced for more informative community feedback (‘reviews’) than less informative community feedback (‘following’, ‘favoriting’).

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Marchenko & Hendrik Sonnabend, 2025. "The never-ending book: the role of new material and peer feedback in user-generated content production," Journal of Cultural Economics, Springer;The Association for Cultural Economics International, vol. 49(3), pages 435-458, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jculte:v:49:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s10824-024-09508-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10824-024-09508-y
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • C31 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models; Quantile Regressions; Social Interaction Models
    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • Z11 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economics of the Arts and Literature

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