Management and Organizational Studies Publications
Making the World a Better Place: How Crowdfunding Increases Consumer Demand for Social-Good Products
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-14-2020
Journal
Journal of Marketing Research
URL with Digital Object Identifier
https://doi.org/10.1177/0022243720970445
Abstract
Crowdfunding has emerged as an alternative means of financing new ventures wherein a large number of individuals collectively back a project. This research specifically looks at reward based crowdfunding, where those who take part in the crowdfunding process receive the new product for which funding is sought in return for their financial support. This work illustrates that consumers make fundamentally different decisions when considering contributing their money to crowdfund versus purchase a product. Six studies demonstrate that compared to a traditional purchase, crowdfunding more strongly activates an interdependent mindset and, as a result, increases consumer demand for social-good products (i.e., products with positive social and/or environmental impact). The research further highlights that an active involvement in the crowdfunding process is necessary to increase demand for social-good products: When a previously crowdfunded product is already to market, the effect is eliminated. Finally, it is demonstrated that crowdfunding participants exhibit an increased demand for social-good products only when collective efficacy (i.e., one’s belief in the collective’s ability to bring about change is high.
Citation of this paper:
Simpson B, Schreier M, Bitterl S, White K. EXPRESS: Making the World a Better Place: How Crowdfunding Increases Consumer Demand for Social-Good Products. Journal of Marketing Research. October 2020. doi:10.1177/0022243720970445
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