Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research

Platform-generated default reviews are widespread in e-commerce, yet they are underexamined as a review system design feature. Using 1994 Taobao product snapshots from two windows (January–April 2025, n = 983; December 2025–January 2026, n = 1011) surrounding a gradual interface redesign that folded default reviews from the default view, this study examines how the default review ratio relates to sales and whether reduced visibility moderates the association. Regression results show that higher default review ratios are associated with lower log sales prior to the redesign, while the negative association attenuates once default reviews are de-emphasised; conditional sales levels are also higher post-redesign. Because the rollout was gradual and the data are repeated cross-sectional snapshots, estimates are interpreted as differences in conditional associations across regimes. These patterns are robust to alternative specifications, additional controls, category-specific post shifts, and winsorization. Overall, the market impact of platform-generated review signals depends on interface visibility, highlighting an actionable governance lever for review system design.

The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic literature review of repurchase intention in social commerce. Specifically, the study examines the current state of research, identifies the key determinants of repurchase intention, and synthesizes background theories and measurement approaches applied in this domain. This research employed the PRISMA procedure for a systematic literature review conducted across two databases: Web of Science and Scopus. A total of 177 papers were identified from databases, with no restrictions on publication year, facilitating the assessment of all pertinent research on the topic. After screening, eligibility for evaluation was based on the study’s objective; ultimately, 27 publications were identified for systematic review and analysis. The results underscore the top five primary determinants of repurchase intention in social commerce: trust, social influences, user experience, perceived value and social commerce attributes. Furthermore, the research identified 16 theoretical foundations for examining repurchase intention in social commerce, with the Stimulus–Organism–Response framework and the Technology Acceptance Model as the primary theories for this systematic review. Furthermore, the findings indicated that partial least squares structural equation modeling remains the predominant measurement technique, but alternative methods continue to be used.

To examine how digitally empowered rural e-commerce affects the market-oriented allocation of urban–rural factors at the county level and the underlying mechanism, this study treats the National E-commerce into Rural Counties Demonstration Program as a quasi-natural experiment. Using a panel of 1898 Chinese counties from 2000 to 2022, we conduct multi-period DID with staggered adoption and mediation analyses. The results show that rural e-commerce significantly raises the marketization level of factor allocation; the effect grows stronger over time and is most pronounced during the rapid-expansion phase, in agriculture-oriented e-commerce counties, in poverty-stricken counties, and in the Central and Western regions. The impact operates mainly through three channels: enlarging market size, upgrading industrial structure, and deepening digital financial usage. Notably, the digital finance channel exhibits a suppression effect, suggesting a complex role of financial digitalization in the early stages of rural development. To further ensure the robustness of our findings, we also conduct rigorous checks using the CSDID method and alternative proxy variables, consistently reaffirming the policy’s significant positive impact. These findings offer actionable evidence for deepening county-level factor-market reforms and advancing common prosperity, leading to policy recommendations on strengthening county digital infrastructure, tailoring e-commerce support systems, and improving the institutional environment for factor mobility.