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Information manipulation in equity crowdfunding markets

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  • Meoli, Michele
  • Vismara, Silvio

Abstract

In digital finance markets, investors can withdraw their non-binding bids within a cooling-off period. As the bids are visible online, we argue that this option can be used to manipulate the information available to investors. Previous research indeed shows that early bids attract later investors and trigger information cascades, thereby enhancing the chances of success of the offerings. Using a dataset of 3564 investment lines, we observe frequent (10.2%) investment withdrawals before the end of the offerings. Platform members invested in 64% and later withdrew from 30% of the offerings listed in their portal, being 1.85 times more likely to withdraw than the average crowdfunding investor. We document that their investments take place predominantly in low-quality offerings and influence the campaign dynamics, increasing the number of subsequent bids.

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  • Meoli, Michele & Vismara, Silvio, 2021. "Information manipulation in equity crowdfunding markets," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:corfin:v:67:y:2021:i:c:s0929119920303102
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2020.101866
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    Cited by:

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    5. Sophie Pommet & Alexandra Rufini & Dominique Torre, 2024. "The role of lead investors in equity crowdfunding campaigns with a secondary market," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(1), pages 243-273, June.
    6. Minli Yu & Fu-Sheng Tsai & Hui Jin & Hejie Zhang, 2022. "Digital finance and renewable energy consumption: evidence from China," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 8(1), pages 1-19, December.
    7. Hans Rawhouser & Silvio Vismara & Nir Kshetri, 2024. "Blockchain and vulnerable entrepreneurial ecosystems," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(1-2), pages 10-35, January.
    8. Massimiliano Barbi & Valentina Febo & Giancarlo Giudici, 2023. "Community-level social capital and investment decisions in equity crowdfunding," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(3), pages 1075-1110, October.
    9. Oh, Sebeom, 2023. "Market Manipulation in NFT Markets," MPRA Paper 116704, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Xiaojie Qu & Bao Zhu, 2023. "Digital Finance and Corporate Cash-Holding Strategy: Organizational Heterogeneity and Strategic Transmission Channels," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-23, January.
    11. Ana Paula Matias Gama & Ricardo Emanuel Correia & Mário Augusto & Fábio Duarte, 2023. "Third-party signals in crowdfunded microfinance: which microfinance institutions boost crowdfunding among refugee entrepreneurs?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(2), pages 559-586, August.
    12. Saul Estrin & Susanna Khavul & Mike Wright, 2022. "Soft and hard information in equity crowdfunding: network effects in the digitalization of entrepreneurial finance," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 1761-1781, April.
    13. Silvio Vismara, 2022. "Expanding corporate finance perspectives to equity crowdfunding," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(6), pages 1629-1639, December.
    14. Alexandra Mora-Cruz & Pedro R. Palos-Sanchez, 2023. "Crowdfunding platforms: a systematic literature review and a bibliometric analysis," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 1257-1288, September.
    15. Arif Perdana & Pearpilai Jutasompakorn & Sunghun Chung, 2023. "Shaping crowdlending investors’ trust: Technological, social, and economic exchange perspectives," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 33(1), pages 1-17, December.
    16. Alice Rossi & Tom Vanacker & Silvio Vismara, 2023. "Unsuccessful Equity Crowdfunding Offerings and the Persistence in Equity Fundraising of Family Business Start-Ups," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(4), pages 1327-1355, July.
    17. Zhu, Xingting & Ma, Xiang & Rehman, Faheem Ur & Liu, Bin, 2024. "Does pension fund ownership reduce market manipulation? Evidence from China," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(PA).

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