Publication Type

Conference Proceeding Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

6-2015

Abstract

Is the interest-free crowdfunding platform a promising alternative to the non-zero interest platform? This study investigates the lenders and borrowers’ incentives and choices between an indirect, non-zero interest rate platform intermediated by a field partner and a direct-lending, interest-free platform. We model the field partner as a profit maximizer that filters qualified borrowers to enable the lenders’ capital to be better utilized on the crowdfunding platform. We show that, under certain conditions, both the borrowers and lenders are better off from the existence of the field partner. The existence of field partner is necessary to effectively segment the market and improve social welfare.

Keywords

Crowdfunding, Kiva, Kiva Zip, Intermediary, Field Partner

Discipline

Databases and Information Systems

Research Areas

Information Systems and Management

Publication

Proceedings of the 9th China Summer Workshop on Information Management (CSWIM): Hefei, June 27-28, 2015

First Page

318

Last Page

323

Publisher

CSWIM

City or Country

Hefei, China

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

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