This book focuses on various types of crowdfunding and the lessons learned from academic research. Crowdfunding, a new and important source of financing for entrepreneurs, fills a funding gap that was traditionally difficult to close. Chapters from expert contributors define and carefully evaluate the various market segments: donation-based and reward-based crowdfunding, crowdinvesting and crowdlending. They further provide an assessment of startups, market structure, as well as backers and investors for each segment. Attention is given to the theoretical and empirical findings from the recent economics and finance literature. Furthermore, the authors evaluate relevant regulatory efforts in several jurisdictions. This book will appeal to finance, entrepreneurship and legal scholars as well as entrepreneurs and platform operators.

Industrial Organization: Markets and Strategies provides an up-to-date account of modern industrial organization that blends theory with real-world applications. Written in a clear and accessible style, it acquaints the reader with the most important models for understanding strategies chosen by firms with market power and shows how such firms adapt to different market environments. It covers a wide range of topics including recent developments on product bundling, branding strategies, restrictions in vertical supply relationships, intellectual property protection, and two-sided markets, to name just a few. Models are presented in detail and the main results are summarized as lessons. Formal theory is complemented throughout by real-world cases that show students how it applies to actual organizational settings. The book is accompanied by a website containing a number of additional resources for lecturers and students, including exercises, answers to review questions, case material and slides.

Crowdfunding: Fundamental Cases, Facts, and Insights presents fundamental knowledge on this maturing economic field. Assembling and arranging datasets, case analyses, and other foundational materials on subjects associated with crowdfunding, the book systematically, comprehensively and authoritatively provides access to a consistent body of crowdfunding research. With the crowdfunding industry now consolidated, this core reference can serve as the basis for research projects and applied work. Presents a complete scope of crowdfunding areas in the international landscape Combines economics with international business, management, law and finance Enables practitioners and researchers to compare regulatory frameworks, best practices and market opportunities Includes a freely available website of supplementary pedagogical material

Currently, a new potential paragon of fundraising and financing, in particular crowd funding (CF) attracts a lot of attention. Basically, CF is an open call for capital, mainly via the internet, where the desired campaign can be evaluated and financially supported by a large group of individuals, the crowd. The matchmaking process between campaign creators and potential investors is mainly established by a standardized CF platform (CFP). Scientific discourse on CF is still nascent, since existing studies and papers focus on the potential of CF and its basic principles. Florian Danmayr addresses crowd funding platforms as object of his analysis and contributes to the body of literature by enhancing knowledge on the composition of the CFP market.

This open access book presents a comprehensive and up-to-date collection of knowledge on the state of crowdfunding research and practice. It considers crowdfunding models and their different manifestations across a variety of geographies and sectors, and explores the perspectives of fundraisers, backers, platforms, and regulators. Gathering insights from a wide range of influential researchers in the field, the book balances concepts, theory, and case studies. Going beyond previous research on crowdfunding, the contributors also investigate issues of community, sustainability, education, and ethics. A vital resource for anyone researching crowdfunding, this book offers readers a deep understanding of the characteristics, business models, user-relations, and behavioural patterns of crowdfunding.

Digital platforms controlled by Alibaba, Alphabet, Amazon, Facebook, Netflix, Tencent and Uber have transformed not only the ways we do business, but also the very nature of people's everyday lives. It is of vital importance that we understand the economic principles governing how these platforms operate. This book explains the driving forces behind any platform business with a focus on network effects. The authors use short case studies and real-world applications to explain key concepts such as how platforms manage network effects and which price and non-price strategies they choose. This self-contained text is the first to offer a systematic and formalized account of what platforms are and how they operate, concisely incorporating path-breaking insights in economics over the last twenty years.