Cited by 2,190Access Control and TrustExpert finding and Q&A systemsPrivacy, Security, and Data Protection

Reputation systems

Open access
Resnick, Paul, Kuwabara, Ko, Zeckhauser, Richard, Friedman, Eric·2000·Communications of the ACM

Abstract

T he Internet offers vast new opportunities to interact with total strangers. These interactions can be fun, informative, even profitable. But they also involve risk. Is the advice of a self-proclaimed expert at expertcentral.com reliable? Will an unknown dotcom site or eBay seller ship items promptly with appropriate packaging? Will the product be the same one described online?

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1145/355112.355122

Cites

8 of 8 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 9 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingcitation
    § MARC MONGEAU

    The overall rate of successful transactions on eBay remains astonishingly high for a market as ripe with large-scale fraud and deceit as eBay.

    “Nevertheless, the overall rate of successful transactions remains astonishingly high for a market as”
    • Also stated in: § MARC MONGEAU · hedged
      “ripe with the possibility of largescale fraud and deceit”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [5] 5. Kollock, P. The production of trust in online markets. In Advances in Group Processes, vol. 16, E. Lawler, M. Macy, S. Thyne, and H. Walker, Eds. JAI Press, Greenwich, CT, 1999; see also www.sscnet.ucla.edu/soc/f aculty/kollock/papers/online_trust.htm.
  • Findingreasoning
    § MARC MONGEAU

    People may not bother to provide feedback at all.

    “The first is that people may not bother to provide feedback at all.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingcitation
    § MARC MONGEAU

    Premiums for stellar reputations are observed in auctions of coins and computer chips on eBay.

    “Such premiums are observed in auctions in auctions of coins and computer chips on eBay [3,6,7].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [3] 3. Bajari, P. and Hortacsu, A. Winner's curse, reserve prices, and endogenous entry: Empirical insights from eBay auctions; see www.stanford.edu/ ~bajari/wp/auction/ebay.pdf.

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [6] 6. Lucking-Reiley, D., Bryan, D., Prasad, N., and Reeves, D. Pennies from eBay: The determinants of price in online auctions; see www.vanderbilt.edu/econ/reiley/papers/PenniesFromEBay.pdf.

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [7] 7. Houser, D. and Wooders, J. Reputation in auctions: Theory and evidence from eBay; see bpa.arizona.edu/~jwooders/ebay.pdf.

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Interpretationreasoning
    § MARC MONGEAU

    It is difficult to ensure honest reports in reputation systems.

    “Third is the difficulty of ensuring honest reports.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Interpretationnone given
    § MARC MONGEAU

    Reputation systems deter participation by those who are unskilled or dishonest.

    “these systems help people decide whom to trust, encourage trustworthy behavior, and deter participation by those who are unskilled or dishonest.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 20
  • May combine two claims. 10
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Findingnone given
    § MARC MONGEAU

    Despite their theoretical and practical difficulties, reputation systems appear to perform reasonably well.

    “Despite their theoretical and practical difficulties, it is reassuring that reputation systems appear to perform reasonably well.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: eBay's high rate of successful transactions is attributable to its reputation system.
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Findingnone given
    § MARC MONGEAU

    At eBay, a stream of buyers interacts with the same seller; they may never buy again, but by sharing opinions via the Feedback Forum, they construct a meaningful history of the seller.

    “At eBay, for example, a stream of buyers interacts with the same seller.They may never buy an item from the seller again, but by sharing their opinions about the seller via the Feedback Forum, they construct a meaningful history of the seller.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning
    § MARC MONGEAU

    If buyers base decisions on public history, sellers' reputations will affect their future sales.

    “If buyers do behave this way, the sellers' reputations will affect their future sales.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given
    § MARC MONGEAU

    Significant challenges remain in the operating phases of reputation systems: eliciting, distributing, and aggregating feedback.

    “Despite this promise, significant challenges remain in the operating phases of such systems: eliciting, distributing, and aggregating feedback.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § MARC MONGEAU

    In a market with no reputation system, high-quality sellers would desert the market over time, and eventually only the lowest-quality sellers would remain.

    “Over time, high-quality sellers would desert the market.Eventually, only the lowest-quality sellers would remain, a dynamic economist George Akerlof memorialized as the”
    • Also stated in: § MARC MONGEAU · plain
      “market for lemons”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [1] 1. Akerlof, G. The market for 'lemons': Quality uncertainty and the market mechanism. Quart. J. Econom. 84 (1970), 488-500. source
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given
    § MARC MONGEAU

    Fear of retaliatory negative feedback or a desire to avoid further unpleasant interactions may keep a dissatisfied buyer quiet.

    “Even then, fear of retaliatory negative feedback or simply a desire to avoid further unpleasant interactions may keep a dissatisfied buyer quiet.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given
    § MARC MONGEAU

    Systems that rely on the participation of large numbers of individuals accumulate trust simply by operating effectively over time.

    “Systems that rely on the participation of large numbers of individuals accumulate trust simply by operating effectively over time.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § MARC MONGEAU

    Sellers with stellar reputations may enjoy a premium on their services; some users may be willing to pay for the security and comfort of high-quality services.

    “For example, sellers with stellar reputations may enjoy a premium on their services; some users may be willing to pay for the security and comfort of high-quality services.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given
    § MARC MONGEAU

    In terms of building trust, a boost in the quantity of information compensates for a significant reduction in its quality.

    “In terms of building trust, a boost in the quantity of information compensates for a significant reduction in its quality.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationcitation
    § MARC MONGEAU

    Newcomers with no feedback should always be distrusted until they have somehow paid their dues, either through an entry fee or by accepting more risk or worse prices while developing their reputations.

    “In particular, newcomers (those with no feedback) should always be distrusted until they have somehow paid their dues, either through an entry fee or by accepting more risk or worse prices while developing their reputations.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [4] 4. Friedman, E. and Resnick, P. The social cost of cheap pseudonyms; see www.si.umich.edu/~presnick/papers/identifiers/index.html.

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning
    § MARC MONGEAU

    Simple numerical ratings fail to convey important subtleties of online interactions.

    “These simple numerical ratings fail to convey important subtleties of online interactions; for example, Did the feedback come from low-value transactions?What were the reputations of the people providing the feedback?”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given
    § Abstract

    Internet services operate on a vastly larger scale than Main Street and permit virtually anonymous interactions.

    “Internet services operate on a vastly larger scale”
    • Also stated in: § MARC MONGEAU · plain
      “than Main Street and permit virtually anonymous interactions.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given
    § MARC MONGEAU

    To operate effectively, reputation systems require long-lived entities that inspire an expectation of future interaction.

    “• Long-lived entities that inspire an expectation of future interaction;”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § MARC MONGEAU

    Today's reputation systems shouldn't work in theory.

    “Today's reputation systems, by contrast, shouldn't work in theory.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given
    § MARC MONGEAU

    To operate effectively, reputation systems require use of feedback to guide trust decisions.

    “• Use of feedback to guide trust decisions.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § MARC MONGEAU

    With clear reputation markers, low-quality sellers get lower prices, leaving a healthier market with a variety of prices and quality of service.

    “With clear reputation markers, low-quality sellers get lower prices, leaving a healthier market with a variety of prices and quality of service.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Premisenone given
    § Abstract

    Prior to the Internet, questions about the reliability of vendors were answered in part through personal and corporate reputations.

    “Prior to the Internet, such questions were answered, in part, through personal and corporate reputations.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given
    § MARC MONGEAU

    Strangers lack known past histories or the prospect of future interaction, and they are not subject to a network of informed individuals who would punish bad and reward good behavior.

    “Strangers lack known past histories or the prospect of future interaction, and they are not subject to a network of informed individuals who would punish bad and reward good behavior.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Premisenone given
    § Abstract

    Internet interactions with strangers involve risk.

    “These interactions can be fun, informative, even profitable.But they also involve risk.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given
    § MARC MONGEAU

    To operate effectively, reputation systems require capture and distribution of feedback about current interactions, visible in the future.

    “• Capture and distribution of feedback about current interactions (such information must be visible in the future); and”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § MARC MONGEAU

    The Internet can vastly accelerate and add structure to the process of capturing and distributing information.

    “The Internet can vastly accelerate and add structure to the process of capturing and distributing information.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § MARC MONGEAU

    Reputation systems are vulnerable to blackmail and to collusive positive ratings that artificially inflate reputations.

    “One party could blackmail another, threatening to post negative feedback unrelated to actual performance.At the other extreme, in order to accumulate positive feedback, a group of sellers might collaborate and rate one another positively, artificially inflating their individual reputations.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning
    § MARC MONGEAU

    Future buyers, lacking personal histories with particular sellers, may still base their buying decisions on a sufficiently extensive public history.

    “Future buyers, lacking personal histories with particular sellers, may still base their buying decisions on a sufficiently extensive public history.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given
    § MARC MONGEAU

    When agreeing to be rated is optional, doing so is likely an indication of higher-quality services, even before ratings are available.

    “When agreeing to be rated is optional (such as when registering as a retailer at bizrate.com), doing so is likely an indication of higher-quality services, even before ratings are available.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given
    § MARC MONGEAU

    Even if all reporting were complete and honest, users would find it virtually impossible to utilize the torrents of information they receive on other participants, given the lack of satisfactory summary statistics.

    “Even if all reporting were complete and honest, users would find it virtually impossible to utilize the torrents of information they receive on other participants, given the lack of satisfactory summary statistics.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § MARC MONGEAU

    Limited distribution of feedback limits its effectiveness; the future casts a shadow on only a single online arena, not on many.

    “Limited distribution of feedback limits its effectiveness; the future casts a shadow on only a single online arena, not on many.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
26 of 26
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Buyers provide and rely on feedback in reputation systems.

    “provide and rely on feedback-isolated interactions take on attributes of long-term relationships.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    eBay's high rate of successful transactions is attributable to its reputation system.

    “The high rate of successful transactions is attributerd by eBay to its reputation system, called the Feedback Forum.”
2 of 2

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • The lack of reputation portability is problematic because limited distribution of feedback limits its effectiveness.

    “Resnick et al. (2000) stated that the lack of reputation portability is problematic as ''[l]imited distribution of feedback limits its effectiveness'' (p. 48).”

    From In Stars We Trust – A Note on Reputation Portability Between Digital Platforms (2022) · cites this paper as Resnick et al. 2000

  • The growth of e-auctions and other forms of e-commerce is based, to a considerable degree, on reputation and trust.

    “The growth of e-auctions and other forms of e-commerce is based, to a considerable degree, on reputation and trust 5-10 .”

    From Evolution of indirect reciprocity (2005) · cites this paper as [9]

  • Past research has argued that reputation systems and user-generated reviews may have the primary purpose of allowing users to learn more about each other before engaging in any interactions or transactions, acting as a monitoring and policing system.

    “Past research has argued that reputation systems and user-generated reviews may have the primary purpose of allowing users to learn more about each other before engaging in any interactions or transactions, acting as a monitoring and policing system [5,66,67].”

Cites

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Cited by

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Authors
Resnick, P., Kuwabara, K., Zeckhauser, R., & Friedman, E.
Affiliations
  • University of Michigan (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
Venue
Communications of the ACM
Published
2000-12
Volume
43
Issue
12
Pages
45-48
ISSN
  • 0001-0782 (ISSN-L)
  • 1557-7317
OpenAlex
W2337430557
Cited by
2,190
References
7
Citations by year
2026: 38 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 33 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 52 · 2020: 58 · 2019: 66 · 2018: 66 · 2017: 87 · 2016: 87 · 2015: 93 · 2014: 110 · 2013: 111 · 2012: 134
FWCI
145.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
Communications of the ACM (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Science Foundation (9977999)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Access Control and Trust
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Expert finding and Q&A systems
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Privacy, Security, and Data Protection
Keywords
reputation systems, online trust, online interaction, e-commerce, peer reputation

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Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-11.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-11.

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