We use novel entrepreneur-backer data to study the extent to which spillovers arise between projects displayed on crowdfunding platforms. We find that backers decide to back a particular project based on past contributions not only to that project—as documented by prior work—but also to other contemporaneous projects—a novel result. Our difference-in-differences estimates indicate that such “cross-project spillovers” account for 4% in the increase of contributions that projects generate on a daily basis. We show that recurrent backers are an important transmission channel of cross-project spillovers: By initiating social learning about project existence and quality, recurrent backers encourage future funding by other backers. Our results demonstrate that even though contemporaneous projects compete for funding, they jointly benefit from their common presence on the platform. These findings have significant implications for digital platform management and competition dynamics.

Previously Featured Articles

32.4 Digital highways and firm turnover

by Carlo Cambini and Lorien Sabatino

27.1 – The O-Ring Theory of the Firm

by Michael T. Rauh
      1. Crowdfunding: Geography, Social Networks, and the Timing of Investment Decisions, by Ajay Agrawal, Christian Catalini, and Avi Goldfarb, Summer 2015
      2. Privacy Regulation and Market Structure, by James Campbell, Avi Goldfarb, and Catherine Tucker, Spring 2015
      3. Endowment Origin, Demographic Effects, and Individual Preferences in Contests, by Curtis R. Price and Roman M. Sheremeta, Fall 2015
      4. The Provision of Relative Performance Feedback: An Analysis of Performance and Satisfaction, by Ghazala Azmat and Nagore Iriberri, Spring 2016
      5. Promotion Signals, Experience, and Education, by Michael Bognanno and Eduardo Melero, Spring 2016

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