A policy perspective on electronic commerce

The implementation of global electronic commerce is proceeding much more ra pidly than initially anticipated. By 2003-2005, electronic commerce revenue is projected to total more than $1 trillion. The U. S. Department of Comme rce's "The Emerging Digital Economy II" [1] provides a snapshot of how elec tronic commerce and information technologies are being used by businesses o f all sizes and from all sectors to create new goods and services. Electron ic commerce is changing the fundamental relationship between buyers and sel lers, producers and consumers. The role of government in providing a policy framework deserves careful examination.