Platform Pricing Structure and Moral Hazard

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Economics & Management Strategy
Year: 2014
Volume: 23
Issue: 3
Pages: 527-547

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We study pricing by a two‐sided platform when it faces moral hazard on the sellers' side. In doing so, we introduce an equilibrium notion of platform reputation in an infinite horizon model. We find that with transaction fees only, the platform cannot eliminate the loss of reputation induced by moral hazard. If registration fees can be levied, moral hazard can be overcome. The registration fee determines the participation threshold of sellers and extracts them, whereas (lower) transaction fees provide incentives for good behavior. This provides a motivation for platforms to use registration fees in addition to transaction fees.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:bla:jemstr:v:23:y:2014:i:3:p:527-547
Journal Field
Industrial Organization
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29