We analyze how digital platforms can increase the survival rate of firms during a crisis by providing continuity in access to customers. Using order-level data from Uber Technologies, we study how the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing shutdown of businesses in the United States affected...

Platforms represent a new middle ground between hierarchies and marketplaces, balancing delegation to providers with centralized control of key strategic dimensions like pricing and customer service. Market design choices are often made early in the life of a platform, thus executives must...