 The concept of network effects was conceived independently by Geoffrey Parker and Marshall Van Alstyne ("2000","2000", "2005") to explain behavior in software markets and by Rochet & Tirole 
to explain behavior in credit card markets.The first known peer-reviewed paper on interdependent demands was published in "2000".Multi-sided platforms exist because there is a need of intermediary in order to match both parts of the platform in a more efficient way.