Despite the recent misfortunes of many dotcoms, e-commerce will have major and lasting effects on economic activity. But the rise and fall in the valuations of the first wave of e-commerce companies show that vague promises of distant profits are insufficient. Only business models based on sound economic propositions will survive. This book provides professionals, investors, and MBA students the tools they need to evaluate the wide range of actual and potential e-commerce businesses at the microeconomic level. It demonstrates how these tools can be used to assess a variety of existing applications. Advances in web-based technology--particularly automation and delegation technologies such as smart agents, shopping bots, and bidding elves--support the further growth of e-commerce. In addition to enabling consumers to conduct automated comparisons and sellers to access visitors' background information in real time, such software programs can make decisions for individuals, negotiate with other programs, and participate in online markets. Much of e-commerce's economic value arises from this kind of automation, which not only reduces operating costs but adds value by generating new market interactions. This text teaches how to analyze the added value of such applications, considering consumer behavior, pricing strategies, incentives, and other critical factors. It discusses added value in several e-commerce arenas: online shopping, business-to-business e-commerce, application design, online negotiation (one-to-one trading), online auctions (one-to-many trading), and many-to-many electronic exchanges. Combining insights from several years of microeconomic research as well as from game theory and computer science, it stresses the importance of economic engineering in application design as well as the need for business models to take into account the "total game." As the only serious treatment of the microeconomics of e-commerce, this book should be read by anyone seeking e-commerce solutions or planning to work in the field.

This second edition of eCommerce Economics addresses the economic issues associated with using computer-mediated electronic networks, such as the Internet, as mechanisms for transferring ownership of or rights to use goods and services. After studying this book, students will recognize problems that arise in the electronic marketplace, such as how to gauge the competitive environment, what products to offer, how to market those products, and how to price those products. They also will understand the conceptual tools required to evaluate the proper scope of public policies relating to electronic commerce. Core topics covered in the book include the underpinning of electronic commerce and the application of basic economic principles, including the theories of perfect and imperfect competition, to the electronic marketplace. Building on this foundation, the book discusses virtual products, network industries, and business strategies and conduct. Additional key topics include Internet advertising, intellectual property rights in a digital environment, regulatory issues in electronic markets, public sector issues, online banking and finance, digital cash, international electronic trade, and the implications of e-commerce for aggregate economic activity.

This volume in the "Advances in Management Information Systems" series offers a state-of-the-art survey of information systems research on electronic commerce. Featuring chapters by leading scholars and industry professionals, it provides the framework for understanding the business trends, emerging opportunities, and barriers to overcome in the rapid developments taking place in electronic business and the digital economy. Researchers, students, and practitioners - anyone interested in the current issues and future direction of electronic commerce, especially from the standpoint of information systems and information technology - will find this book to be an authoritative source of cutting-edge information. The volume is divided into four parts: Part I covers the fundamental issues of information technology standards and the transformation of industry structure; Part II focuses on B2B commerce; Part III investigates the management of mobile and IT infrastructure; and Part IV includes trust, security, and legal issues that undergird the success of e-commerce initiatives.

This book provides an economic analysis of e-commerce and the Internet. The book takes a broad approach in looking at the microeconomic structure, competitive strategy and efficiency, as well as social and legal implications of the e-commerce revolution. The unique approach of the book is its demonstration of economic tensions, economic forces acting in concert or in opposition, that are consistently affecting the continuing development of e-commerce.

Electronic commerce has the potential to radically alter some economic activities and the surrounding social environment. It changes the business environment, accelerates changes under way, increases interactivity, encourages openness, and alters the notion of time.This book examines such issues as the potential for growth of electronic commerce, its impact on the efficiency of the economy, its effects on how business is organized, and on markets, on jobs, and on society. It points out that countries will dismantle barriers to global electronic commerce at different rates, and that this may raise competitive concerns. It also discusses the electronic commerce's impacts on the costs of owning a "store," carrying inventory, conducting sales, placing and processing orders, customer support, and product distribution.

Publisher Description

The growth of the Internet continues to influence our lives and businesses. Irrespective of their type and size, all firms and organizations are rethinking their strategies and operations. An increasing number of businesses are using e-commerce to gain competitive advantage. However, doing e-commerce is complex and requires understanding a vast array of topics. This book provides coverage of essential topics in E-commerce i.e. technology infrastructure, building blocks of e-commerce, online marketing, online payment systems, online business models, online business environment issues, website usability, e-commerce strategy, mobile commerce, and e-CRM/e-SCM. Compared with available texts on e-commerce, the perspective of this book is global e-commerce. The book is written in simple language, provides up-to-date coverage of material and associated research, and filled with examples to support material presented. This book is useful for undergrad and graduate students, professionals, and anyone looking to gain a solid foundation to continue their learning of dynamic e-commerce environment.

The use of ICT applications has dipped into almost every aspect of the business sector, including trade. With the volume of e-commerce increasing, international traders must switch their rules and practices to e-trade to survive in such a competitive market. However, the complexity of international trade, which covers customs processes, different legislation, specific documentation requirements, different languages, different currencies, and different payment systems and risk, presents its own challenges in this transition. Tools and Techniques for Implementing International E-Trading Tactics for Competitive Advantage examines the multidisciplinary approach of international e-trade as it applies to information technology, digital marketing, digital communication, online reputation management, and different legislation and risks. The content within this publication examines digital advertising, consumer behavior, and e-commerce and is designed for international traders, entrepreneurs, business professionals, researchers, academicians, and students.

The e-commerce market has grown rapidly within the ASEAN region in recent years. This trend is expected to continue in the future given the region’s large population base, rising middle-class and improvements in connectivity. This edited volume examines the current state of e-commerce in ASEAN countries. It highlights some of the key domestic and cross-border challenges faced by ASEAN member states in developing e-commerce. These challenges include the regulatory and legal environment in which e-commerce firms operate across ASEAN, and the supporting infrastructure in ASEAN member states. “A comprehensive snapshot of the latest emerging regulatory, policy and consumer issues. It’s essential reading for anyone working in this field. E-commerce is fundamentally altering the way in which businesses are being conducted, both within and between ASEAN countries. More than just an alternate distribution channel, online trading offers new opportunities and challenges for consumers, businesses, regulators and policymakers. How do markets operate in the new paradigm? How should regulators and governments ensure that dynamic competitive economies evolve, instead of descending into anti-competitive structures? And how are markets evolving in different parts of Southeast Asia? All of these issues—and much more—are discussed in here. The editors are to be congratulated for assembling a range of insightful perspectives from across ASEAN. These are issues that will affect the region for many years to come. The lessons here are timely and timeless.” —Michael Schaper Ph.D., Deputy Chairman, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, 2008–18