Economic implications of agent technology and e-commerce

In the light of the exponential growth of the Internet and World Wide Web t his paper describes in some detail existing agents and multi-agents applica tions in the context of e-commerce, and suggests a research agenda for econ omists in response to these changes in technology and lifestyle. First, sev eral ways where economic theory (and in particular implementation theory) c an be used to design and improve the efficiency of e-commerce systems are d escribed. Second, the paper discusses the impact on markets of using softwa re agents. Finally, the paper discusses how economic theory can be used tow ards the design of the interactions between agents and their users.