Globalization and E-Commerce VIII: Environment and Policy in Taiwan

Abstract

The diffusion of e-commerce in less developed countries is an uneven process, affecting different economic activities in different ways. Some sectors seem to benefit much more than others from the development of new communications technologies. Also, some regions and countries are more receptive to ICT innovations than others [Mansell and Wehn, 1998, Figure 2.4 to 2.6 pp. 28-29]. Considering the social and economic impact of new telecommunication technologies, it is important to identify the driving forces behind e-commerce diffusion properly. This paper analyses the diffusion of e-commerce in Brazil, based on hypotheses about driving forces and barriers. It looks at global and national environment and policy forces and identifies which factors are drivers or enablers and which are barriers or inhibitors to B2B and B2C e-commerce adoption