Understanding the Digital Economy

The rapid growth of electronic commerce along with changes in information computing and communications is having a profound effect on the United States economy. President Clinton recently directed the National Economic Council in consultation with executive branch agencies to analyze the economic implications of the Internet and electronic commerce domestically and internationally and to consider new types of data collection and research that could be undertaken by public and private organizations. This book contains work presented at a conference held by executive branch agencies in May 1999 at the Department of Commerce. The goals of the conference were to assess current research on the digital economy to engage the private sector in developing the research that informs investment and policy decisions and to promote better understanding of the growth and socioeconomic implications of information technology and electronic commerce. Aspects of the digital economy addressed include macroeconomic assessment organizational change small business access market structure and competition and employment and the workforce.