Management Review

Management Review ›› 2023, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (11): 179-193.

• E-business and Information Management • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Literature Review on Multilateral E-commerce Platforms: Theoretical Evolution, Regulatory Focus, and China's Issue

Duan Litao1,2,3, Lu Chaonan4, Li Sirui5,6, Peng Geng7, Lv Benfu7,8   

  1. 1. Institute of Quantitative and Technical Economics, CASS, Beijing 100732;
    2. Research Center of Information Technology, CASS, Beijing 100732;
    3. China Laboratory of Economic and Social Development and Intelligent Governance, Beijing 100732;
    4. China Academy of Cyberspace Sciences, Beijing 100048;
    5. ECARES, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels 1050;
    6. Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique-FNRS, Brussels 1050;
    7. School of Economics and Management, UCAS, Beijing 100190;
    8. China Institute for Innovation & Development Strategy, Beijing 100044
  • Received:2022-03-07 Online:2023-11-28 Published:2023-12-27

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Abstract: Multilateral e-commerce platforms have penetrated into all walks of life, but there are relatively few theoretical studies on multilateral e-commerce platforms. We first review the development of platform theory. Platform theory originated from the study of two-sided market, and then with the development of Internet technology, the research focus gradually shifted to multilateral e-commerce platform. At present, the research on multilateral e-commerce platforms still lacks a systematic theoretical framework, and mainly focuses on explaining the new phenomena and problems accompanying multilateral e-commerce platforms. On the basis of summarizing the literature, this paper summarizes the focus of research on the regulation of multilateral e-commerce platforms according to some realistic performances:price discrimination, algorithm collusion and platform monopoly, and puts forward two main problems faced by China's multilateral e-commerce platforms. Finally, this paper summarizes the research status of platforms at home and abroad, and puts forward three issues for future research on multilateral e-commerce platforms:the definition of platform boundary, the governance of platform economy and the anti-unfair competition regulation.

Key words: multilateral e-commerce platform, evolution of theory, focus of regulation