From cars to clouds: The promises and perils of Uber’s ambitious platform expansion
open.substack.com/pub/paulbell...
open.substack.com/pub/paulbell...
From cars to clouds: The promises and perils of Uber’s ambitious platform expansion
Uber’s latest announcement—integrating Blade’s helicopters into its app in 2026—illustrates the logic and ambition behind platform diversification and envelopment.
open.substack.com
📣 Call for advice from fellow economics educators: I’m looking for effective ways to explain the 𝕤𝕦𝕓𝕘𝕒𝕞𝕖-𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕗𝕖𝕔𝕥 ℕ𝕒𝕤𝕙 𝕖𝕢𝕦𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕓𝕣𝕚𝕦𝕞 so that it really clicks.
⁉️ Have you discovered intuitive explanations, analogies, or classroom activities that help it stick?
⁉️ Have you discovered intuitive explanations, analogies, or classroom activities that help it stick?
Generally, it benefits the platform to favour the user group with the greater influence on attracting the other. The recent decision to let US guests reserve a property without paying up front suggests that each new guest attracts more hosts than extra hosts attract guests.
Digital platforms often face a trade-off: satisfying one user group’s needs can disadvantage another, as the total transaction value is fixed. For example, Airbnb must balance guest flexibility and host protection.
techcrunch.com/2025/08/14/a...
techcrunch.com/2025/08/14/a...
Airbnb will allow US users to book stays without paying up front | TechCrunch
Airbnb has launched a new feature called "Reserve Now, Pay Later" that lets users in the U.S. reserve a property without paying upfront, potentially allowing people to cancel their bookings with less ...
techcrunch.com
Dropbox’s decision to discontinue Dropbox Passwords highlights a critical lesson in platform strategy: not every feature achieves the scale or impact required for long-term success.
This move offers a real-world example of the “minimum viable platform” concept.
open.substack.com/pub/paulbell...
This move offers a real-world example of the “minimum viable platform” concept.
open.substack.com/pub/paulbell...
Cracking the Code: Demystifying the Minimum Viable Platform (1)
In 2011, Eric Ries popularised the concept of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) as part of the Lean Startup methodology.
open.substack.com
Reposted by: Paul Belleflamme
So excited to tell you about my new venture with @afinetheorem.bsky.social called All Day TA (@alldayta.bsky.social) open.substack.com/pub/joshuaga...
Introducing All Day TA
My new venture designed to bring AI responsibly into college education
open.substack.com
Reposted by: Paul Belleflamme
New paper "Spillovers in Crowdfunding" with @belleflamme.bsky.social & Armin Schwienbacher in the Journal of Economics & Management Strategy (open access) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
👉 We show the essential role #platforms play in connecting backers with entrepreneurs in crowdfunding
👉 We show the essential role #platforms play in connecting backers with entrepreneurs in crowdfunding
Spillovers in Crowdfunding
We use novel entrepreneur-backer data to study the extent to which spillovers arise between projects displayed on crowdfunding platforms. We find that backers decide to back a particular project base....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Reposted by: Paul Belleflamme
In the latest #PlatformPapers blog, Paul Belleflamme, Eric Toulemonde and Martin Peitz argue that using market shares to proxy market power for digital platforms is complicated for several reasons. They offer insights to regulators, investors and managers.
platformpapers.substack.com/p/rethinking...
platformpapers.substack.com/p/rethinking...
Rethinking Market Power in the Digital Platform Era
Market share isn't everything.
platformpapers.substack.com
Reposted by: Paul Belleflamme
Your social media is no longer a personal space. It may be used by governments to determine whether you fit with their values
👉 Read the full story: tcnv.link/fRVOh13
👉 Read the full story: tcnv.link/fRVOh13
"Indiegogo is being acquired by the board game crowdfunding platform Gamefound." (The Verge, 24/07/25) It is not surprising that the reward-based crowdfunding sector gets more concentrated, as we explained in a recent blog:
open.substack.com/pub/paulbell...
open.substack.com/pub/paulbell...
Concentration in the French Crowdfunding Market: The Role of Positive Spillovers Across Projects
What explains KissKissBankBank's takeover by Ulule?
open.substack.com
Check out my latest (free access) publication, which explores the dynamic impacts of crises on sharing economy platforms. The article presents a conceptual framework for understanding how platform participation, strategy, and resilience evolve in response to disruptions.
www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17...
www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17...
www.mdpi.com
Frightening...
Discover how the principles outlined in 'Platform Strategies' help us understand the fascinating world of second-hand clothing platforms.
#econSky
#econSky
Thrifted treasures: Overcoming challenges and unlocking the potential of second-hand fashion
How can platforms strive in this promising market?
open.substack.com
Thanks to #PlatformPapers and @gjrietveld.bsky.social for allowing us to popularise our academic research. #EconSky
While digital platforms may offer broader reach and scalability, physical fairs like Batibouw provide unmatched opportunities for trust-building and professional networking that can't be replicated online. #EconSky #Platforms
Batibouw: A brick-and-mortar platform … for brick and mortar trade
Belgium's largest trade fair for construction provides a compelling case study to illustrate the strategies of platforms.
paulbelleflamme.substack.com
Reposted by: Paul Belleflamme
Notre nouvel article dans de @france.theconversation.com "Concentration sur le marché français du crowdfunding : le rôle des retombées positives entre projets"
theconversation.com/absorption-d... @belleflamme.bsky.social
theconversation.com/absorption-d... @belleflamme.bsky.social
Absorption de KissKissBankBank par Ulule : les raisons d'une fusion
L’absorption de KissKissBankBank par Ulule n’est pas une surprise. Ulule a mieux tiré parti des retombées positives entre projets que sa rivale.
theconversation.com
Our research reveals that despite competing for funding, projects can benefit each other. We've identified a significant spillover effect accounting for approximately 4% of the daily rise in project contributions. This phenomenon is driven by recurrent backers who support multiple projects.
Thomas Lambert
@tlambert0803.bsky.social
· Jan 20
Spillovers in Crowdfunding
We use novel entrepreneur-backer data to study the extent to which spillovers arise between projects displayed on crowdfunding platforms. We find that backers decide to back a particular project base....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
📈 BlueSky's growth at the expense of X exemplifies the "Shelter Runaway Chickens" strategy we explain in our book.
⬇️ Find out more about this strategy in this blog post:
paulbelleflamme.substack.com/p/opportunit...
#EconSky
⬇️ Find out more about this strategy in this blog post:
paulbelleflamme.substack.com/p/opportunit...
#EconSky
From X to Bluesky: why are people fleeing Elon Musk’s ‘digital town square’?
Musk’s platform has lost 2.7 million active US users in two months, while its rival has gained 2.5 million
www.theguardian.com
by Joshua Gans — Reposted by: Paul Belleflamme
Kevin Bryan outlines how to use AI in your University classes. www.youtube.com/live/JzQ13Lk...
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