IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/epolin/v52y2025i1d10.1007_s40812-024-00323-2.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Hybrid platforms with free entry: demand-enhancing activities

Author

Listed:
  • Leda Maria Bonazzi

    (University of Pavia)

  • Riccardo Martina

    (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore)

  • Giovanni Ursino

    (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore)

Abstract

We study the decision of a platform as to the quantity and quality of the products to sell directly on its own marketplace, where also third-party sellers decide how much to invest in the quality of their products. Using a representative agent framework that is based on a quasi-linear quality-augmented indirect utility function, we show that, under free entry, the quality investments of sellers do not change with platform entry, while the number of joining sellers does. Moreover, contrarily to what is found in the received literature, the platform may go hybrid even in the case it does not enjoy a competitive advantage vis-á-vis third-party sellers. We then study the welfare implications of a platform’s entry decision and show that promoting sellers’ investments and/or contrasting platform entry may lead to a larger as well as a lower consumer welfare. This depends on the platform’s response in equilibrium, both in terms of changes of its quality-enhancing investments and the fee charged on the revenues of third-party sellers.

Suggested Citation

  • Leda Maria Bonazzi & Riccardo Martina & Giovanni Ursino, 2025. "Hybrid platforms with free entry: demand-enhancing activities," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 52(1), pages 81-106, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:epolin:v:52:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s40812-024-00323-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s40812-024-00323-2
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s40812-024-00323-2
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s40812-024-00323-2?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 search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alfaro, Martin & Lander, David, 2021. "Restricting entry without aggressive pricing," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(4), pages 305-319.
    2. Richard Baldwin & James Harrigan, 2011. "Zeros, Quality, and Space: Trade Theory and Trade Evidence," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 3(2), pages 60-88, May.
    3. Feng Zhu & Qihong Liu, 2018. "Competing with complementors: An empirical look at Amazon.com," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(10), pages 2618-2642, October.
    4. Zhuoxin Li & Ashish Agarwal, 2017. "Platform Integration and Demand Spillovers in Complementary Markets: Evidence from Facebook’s Integration of Instagram," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 63(10), pages 3438-3458, October.
    5. Paolo Bertoletti & Federico Etro, 2017. "Monopolistic Competition when Income Matters," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 127(603), pages 1217-1243, August.
    6. Jens Foerderer & Thomas Kude & Sunil Mithas & Armin Heinzl, 2018. "Does Platform Owner’s Entry Crowd Out Innovation? Evidence from Google Photos," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 29(2), pages 444-460, June.
    7. Justin P. Johnson, 2017. "The Agency Model and MFN Clauses," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 84(3), pages 1151-1185.
    8. Simon P. Anderson & Nisvan Erkal & Daniel Piccinin, 2020. "Aggregative games and oligopoly theory: short‐run and long‐run analysis," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 51(2), pages 470-495, June.
    9. Yusuke Zennyo, 2022. "Platform Encroachment and Own‐Content Bias," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 70(3), pages 684-710, September.
    10. Federico Etro, 2023. "Hybrid Marketplaces with Free Entry of Sellers," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 62(2), pages 119-148, March.
    11. Anderson, Simon & Bedre-Defolie, Özlem, 2022. "Online trade platforms: Hosting, selling, or both?," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    12. Stephen J Redding & David E Weinstein, 2020. "Measuring Aggregate Price Indices with Taste Shocks: Theory and Evidence for CES Preferences," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 135(1), pages 503-560.
    13. Federico Etro, 2021. "Product selection in online marketplaces," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(3), pages 614-637, August.
    14. Colin J. Hottman & Stephen J. Redding & David E. Weinstein, 2016. "Quantifying the Sources of Firm Heterogeneity," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 131(3), pages 1291-1364.
    15. Andrei Hagiu & Tat‐How Teh & Julian Wright, 2022. "Should platforms be allowed to sell on their own marketplaces?," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 53(2), pages 297-327, June.
    16. Shopova, Radostina, 2023. "Private labels in marketplaces," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    17. Federico Etro, 2024. "e‐Commerce platforms and self‐preferencing," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(4), pages 1516-1543, September.
    18. Robert C. Feenstra & John Romalis, 2014. "International Prices and Endogenous Quality," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 129(2), pages 477-527.
    19. Feng Zhu, 2019. "Friends or foes? Examining platform owners’ entry into complementors’ spaces," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 23-28, January.
    20. Jorge Padilla & Joe Perkins & Salvatore Piccolo, 2022. "Self‐Preferencing in Markets with Vertically Integrated Gatekeeper Platforms," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 70(2), pages 371-395, June.
    21. Wen Wen & Feng Zhu, 2019. "Threat of platform‐owner entry and complementor responses: Evidence from the mobile app market," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(9), pages 1336-1367, September.
    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. Etro, Federico, 2023. "Platform competition with free entry of sellers," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    2. Federico Etro, 2024. "e‐Commerce platforms and self‐preferencing," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(4), pages 1516-1543, September.
    3. Kittaka, Yuta & Sato, Susumu & Zennyo, Yusuke, 2023. "Self-preferencing by platforms: A literature review," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    4. Martin Peitz, 2024. "The Economic Theory of Two-Sided Platforms," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2024_584, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany.
    5. Alfaro, Martin & Lander, David, 2021. "Restricting entry without aggressive pricing," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(4), pages 305-319.
    6. Lam, Wing Man Wynne & Liu, Xingyi, 2023. "Dancing with rivals: How does platform’s information usage benefit independent sellers?," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 309(1), pages 421-431.
    7. Federico Etro, 2023. "Hybrid Marketplaces with Free Entry of Sellers," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 62(2), pages 119-148, March.
    8. Zhengwei Li & Yadan Zheng & Xin Zhao, 2024. "The impacts of platform owner entry on prospective complementors’ intention to join: Discouraged by deterrent or attracted by good reputation," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 34(1), pages 1-16, December.
    9. Shu He & Jing Peng & Jianbin Li & Liping Xu, 2020. "Impact of Platform Owner’s Entry on Third-Party Stores," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 31(4), pages 1467-1484, December.
    10. Flach, Lisandra & Unger, Florian, 2022. "Quality and gravity in international trade," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    11. Tan, Yinliang (Ricky) & Yu, Chuanbin & Liu, Yang & Zheng, Quan, 2024. "Agency models in online platforms: A review of recent developments and future prospects," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 319(3), pages 679-695.
    12. Shopova, Radostina, 2023. "Private labels in marketplaces," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    13. Navarra, Federico & Pino, Flavio & Sandrini, Luca, 2024. "Mandated data-sharing in hybrid marketplaces," ZEW Discussion Papers 24-051, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    14. Martin Peitz, 2025. "Governance and Regulation of Platforms," Springer Books, in: Claude Ménard & Mary M. Shirley (ed.), Handbook of New Institutional Economics, edition 0, chapter 23, pages 565-593, Springer.
    15. Paolo Bertoletti & Federico Etro, 2022. "Monopolistic competition, as you like it," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 60(1), pages 293-319, January.
    16. Jorge Padilla & Joe Perkins & Salvatore Piccolo, 2022. "Self‐Preferencing in Markets with Vertically Integrated Gatekeeper Platforms," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 70(2), pages 371-395, June.
    17. Francesco Angelini & Massimiliano Castellani & Lorenzo Zirulia, 2025. "Platform investment and seller competition in two-sided markets," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 144(1), pages 1-29, January.
    18. Yanhui Wu & Feng Zhu, 2022. "Competition, Contracts, and Creativity: Evidence from Novel Writing in a Platform Market," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(12), pages 8613-8634, December.
    19. Chi, Yunjia & Qing, Ping & Jin, Yong Jimmy & Yu, Jinjun & Dong, Maggie Chuoyan & Huang, Li, 2022. "Competition or spillover? Effects of platform-owner entry on provider commitment," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 627-636.
    20. Saruta, Fuyuki, 2023. "Private labels and platform competition," MPRA Paper 119585, University Library of Munich, Germany.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Hybrid marketplace; Free entry; Monopolistic competition; Demand enhancement; Consumer welfare;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D42 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Monopoly
    • L12 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Monopoly; Monopolization Strategies
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • L40 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies - - - General

    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:spr:epolin:v:52:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s40812-024-00323-2. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    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.