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Crowdfunding and social influence : an empirical investigation

Author

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  • Grazia Cecere

    (IMT-BS - DEFI - Département Droit, Economie et Finances - TEM - Télécom Ecole de Management - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris] - IMT-BS - Institut Mines-Télécom Business School - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris], LITEM - Laboratoire en Innovation, Technologies, Economie et Management (EA 7363) - UEVE - Université d'Évry-Val-d'Essonne - TEM - Télécom Ecole de Management)

  • Fabrice Le Guel

    (RITM - Réseaux Innovation Territoires et Mondialisation - UP11 - Université Paris-Sud - Paris 11)

  • Fabrice Rochelandet

    (IRCAV - IRCAV - Institut de Recherche sur le Cinéma et l'Audiovisuel - EA 185 - Université Sorbonne Nouvelle - Paris 3 - LABEX ICCA - UP13 - Université Paris 13 - Université Sorbonne Nouvelle - Paris 3 - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UPCité - Université Paris Cité - Université Sorbonne Paris Nord)

Abstract

The literature so far provides no in-depth investigation of the determinants of decisions to contribute to crowdfunding platforms. The present article draws on work measuring the decisions and prosocial behaviours of individuals in relation to public goods, and uses survey data on crowdfunding behaviour. We surveyed an original sample of individuals in France to explore individual decisions and amounts of funding chosen to support a creative project. We show that in non-equity crowdfunding contributing money is associated with altruism. Our findings suggest that the ‘warm glow' effect influences the level of the contribution; we show also those monetary incentives could ‘crowd out' the decisions to contribute of crowdfunders. Our study has some implications for business strategy since understanding why people contribute adds to our knowledge about the incentives that might encourage them to increase their contributions, and allows predictions about how changes to how crowdfunding platforms are managed might affect individual incentives to give.

Suggested Citation

  • Grazia Cecere & Fabrice Le Guel & Fabrice Rochelandet, 2017. "Crowdfunding and social influence : an empirical investigation," Post-Print hal-01721506, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01721506
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2017.1343450
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    2. Susana Bernardino & J. Freitas Santos, 2020. "Crowdfunding: An Exploratory Study on Knowledge, Benefits and Barriers Perceived by Young Potential Entrepreneurs," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-24, April.
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    4. Yasir Shahab & Yasir Riaz & Collins G. Ntim & Zhiwei Ye & Qingjing Zhang & Ran Feng, 2021. "Online feedback and crowdfunding finance in China," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(3), pages 4634-4652, July.
    5. Crosby, Paul & McKenzie, Jordi, 2021. "Should subscription-based content creators display their earnings on crowdfunding platforms? Evidence from Patreon," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 16(C).
    6. Hasnan Baber & Riri Kusumarani & Hongwei (Chris) Yang, 2022. "U.S. Election 2020: Intentions to Participate in Political Crowdfunding during COVID-19 Pandemic," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-22, July.
    7. Luisa Faust & Maura Kolbe & Sasan Mansouri & Paul P. Momtaz, 2022. "The Crowdfunding of Altruism," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-29, March.
    8. Mohd Khairy Kamarudin & Nur Izzati Mohamad Norzilan & Fatin Nur Ainaa Mustaffa & Masyitah Khidzir & Suhaili Alma’amun & Nasrul Hisyam Nor Muhamad & Mohd Fauzi Abu-Hussin & Nurul Izzah Noor Zainan & Ab, 2023. "Why Do Donors Donate? A Study on Donation-Based Crowdfunding in Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-16, February.
    9. Christian Handke & Carolina Dalla Chiesa, 2022. "The art of crowdfunding arts and innovation: the cultural economic perspective," Journal of Cultural Economics, Springer;The Association for Cultural Economics International, vol. 46(2), pages 249-284, June.
    10. Stan Oana Mara & Fanea-Ivanovici Mina, 2019. "Time to act: discourse on time in crowdfunding for social entrepreneurship project," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 13(1), pages 1162-1172, May.
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