Unleashing the Crowd: The Effect of Social Networks in Crowdfunding Markets

Lin Peng () and Linyi Zhang ()
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Lin Peng: Bert W. Wasserman Department of Economics and Finance, Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College, City University of New York, New York, New York 10010
Linyi Zhang: Shenzhen Finance Institute, School of Management and Economics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China

Management Science, 2025, vol. 71, issue 6, 4942-4976

Abstract: We identify the crucial role social networks play in crowdfunding markets. Investors are 50% more likely to fund projects that their peers support and are 11.2% more likely to fund projects from regions where they share strong social ties, given a one-standard-deviation change in the variables. More influential peers exert a greater influence, especially in the case of riskier projects, and the peer effects are amplified in crowdfunding platforms that prioritize transparency and accountability. Social ties transmit information about economic conditions in project locations, and they complement the influence of peer effects. Furthermore, the social network effects affect project funding outcomes and can be particularly valuable in mitigating the adverse effects of natural disasters. Our findings suggest that social networks play a significant role in crowdfunding markets by increasing investor awareness, disseminating information, and ultimately influencing capital allocations.

Keywords: social networks; peer effects; social learning; crowdfunding; social proximity to crowdfunding capital (SPCC); fintech; platform design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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