Abstract
In January 2017, the subscription-based crowdfunding platform Patreon allowed their users (creators) the ability to hide their earnings from existing and potential subscribers. Prior to this, all monthly earnings were visible. We investigate what effect this policy change had on creators’ subscriber numbers over the following six months. Using double-robust and endogenous treatment estimation techniques, we find evidence that creators who removed the visibility of their earnings had more subscribers as a result. This suggests that the provision of social information does not lead to an increase in subscribers.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e00264 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-5 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Business Venturing Insights |
Volume | 16 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Nov 2021 |
Keywords
- Crowdfunding
- Patreon
- Entrepreneurship
- Natural experiment