Browsing by Author "Djupsjö, Kenneth"

The aim of this study is to examine the regional structures of the C2C e-commerce (consumer-to-consumer electronic commerce) in the capital region of Helsinki. The demographic and socioeconomic backgrounds of the users of C2C platforms is also in the focus in this study, to investigate whether the polarisation and differentiation trends of the city can be seen in the activity, pricing or participation in the C2C e-commerce. Interestingly, studies show that there are several reasons for participating and using the C2C trade, yet, this has not been studied in the Finnish context from a regional perspective. The analysis in this study was quantitative, with statistical and spatial methods applied. These statistical methods include correlation analysis, linear regression as well as statistical tests, while the spatial methods conducted were clustering analysis and cartographic visualisation. The data used in this study were the content data of the classified ads and account information in Tori.fi, the largest C2C e-commerce service in Finland. This data was combined with the Paavo-statistical data from Statistics Finland that includes demographic, household, income and life-phase data on a postal code level of detail. Consequently, the data used was a summary data of both C2C e-commerce data and background variables, on a postal code level of detail, in the research area. The results showed that there are regional structures in the C2C e-commerce in the capital region of Helsinki. Namely, an inner-city – suburban divide that can be seen in the activity, use and participation in the trade. Other results presented were that there are similarities, based on life-phase, socioeconomics and demographics, in the regional differentiation trends and the C2C trade. This study also discussed which sociodemographic variables had the largest impact on using C2C e-commerce, as well as what the most influential user background-characteristics were in the C2C trade. Finally, the conclusions that can be made from this study are that there are regional structures in the C2C e- commerce based on the regional characteristics of the population in the capital region of Helsinki. The regional development trends can also be seen in the C2C trade, in addition to groups socially or demographically excluded from electronic commerce or information technology. The approach of this study contributes with a theoretical framework for quantitatively examining use of the C2C e-commerce using statistical and spatial methods. Keywords: C2C e-commerce, e-commerce, internet, technology, regional differentiation, segregation, demography, spatial research, geography, Helsinki, Finland