(The) impact of online platform business models on public safety and consumer welfare

Abstract

Online platform business models have been generating diverse values across various domains, including society, economy, and individuals, exerting a significant impact on our lives. In the past, research on online platforms has focused on addressing societal challenges directly associated with their unique dynamics or providing a comprehensive understanding of consumer welfare, highlighting the need to study unintended social values and sustainable consumer welfare resulting from online platform business models. Therefore, this dissertation consists of two empirical studies: one focusing on public safety at the macro-level and the other examining consumer welfare at the micro-level based on online platform business models. In the first study, an empirical analysis was conducted on the impact of online home service platforms on residential crime occurrence. In the second study, the design of marketing strategies for consumer welfare on electric scooter-sharing platforms was explored, along with an examination of consumer behavior. The findings from these two studies are expected to provide valuable insights into a new perspective on the societal impacts of online platform business models and effective strategy development to enhance consumer welfare.