Abstract:

Data transactions play a vital role in realizing the value of data elements. In recent years， two innovative modes of data transaction have emerged： the broker mode， in which the intermediary acts as a third-party service provider to facilitate transactions between buyers and providers； and the trust mode， in which the intermediary serves as a data hosting service provider to utilize， add value to， and monetize the entrusted data. In this paper， the broker and trust modes are analyzed from the perspectives of data value， data security， and transaction cost. The decision-making of the intermediary and the provider under the two modes is examined， and their strategic preferences are explored. The findings indicate that the trust mode is preferred by both the intermediary and the provider when both data shortage cost and misfit cost are high. Conversely， the broker mode is preferred by both parties when both data leakage cost and the provider’s transaction cost are high， or when buyer’s transaction cost is relatively high. Moreover， consumer surplus is maximized under the trust mode when either transaction cost or data value is high. Effective support and insights are provided for operational decisions in data transactions.

Key words: data intermediary, data broker, data trust, operation modes