The Development Dimension of E-Commerce in Asia: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

E-commerce lowers barriers to entry by eliminating certain costs related to having a physical storefront. It connects the supply side to the demand side without the traditional physical limitations and without certain transaction costs. E-commerce is the sale and purchase of goods and services through electronic networks and the internet, encompassing a broad range of commercial activity. While widespread adoption of e-commerce in advanced economies is evident, physical and institutional barriers to its application in developing countries must first be overcome. Governments, multilateral organizations, and the private sector must cooperate in fostering an environment that is conducive to its implementation.