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Platforms: a multiplicity of research opportunities

Author

Listed:
  • S. Sriram

  • Puneet Manchanda

  • Mercedes Bravo

  • Junhong Chu

  • Liye Ma

  • Minjae Song

  • Scott Shriver

  • Upender Subramanian

Abstract

Platforms refer to intermediaries that facilitate economic interaction between two sets of agents wherein the decisions of one set of agents are likely to have an effect on the other via direct and/or indirect externalities. Given their nature, platforms need to find the appropriate balance between the competing objectives of agents and act as catalysts by facilitating the beneficial effects of externalities. In this paper, we discuss the current theoretical and empirical literature on two-sided platforms. We then identify three dimensions that offer opportunities to advance the empirical literature: (a) unanswered theoretical and conceptual questions, (b) data-related opportunities, and (c) methodological challenges. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015

Suggested Citation

  • S. Sriram & Puneet Manchanda & Mercedes Bravo & Junhong Chu & Liye Ma & Minjae Song & Scott Shriver & Upender Subramanian, 2015. "Platforms: a multiplicity of research opportunities," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 141-152, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:mktlet:v:26:y:2015:i:2:p:141-152
    DOI: 10.1007/s11002-014-9314-1
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