Electronic Commerce: An Introduction (Congressional Research Service)

Electronic Commerce: An Introduction

Congressional Research Service Report for Congress

...Electronic commercial transactions over the Internet, or “e-commerce,” have grown
so fast over the last five years that many experts continue to underestimate its growth
and development. Whether retail business-to-customer or business-to-business
transactions, e-commerce is now a significant part of commercial transactions. In turn,
policymakers both in the United States and abroad are likely to face increasingly complex
issues of security, privacy, taxation, infrastructure development and other issues in 2001
and beyond. The convergence of computer and telecommunications technologies has
revolutionized how we get, store, retrieve, and share information. Many experts contend
that this convergence has created the Information Economy, driven by the Internet, and
fueled a surge in U.S. productivity and economic growth. Commercial transactions on the
Internet, whether retail business-to-customer or business-to-business, are commonly called
electronic commerce, or “e-commerce.”....

Congressional Research Service

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) serves shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. CRS experts assist at every stage of the legislative process — from the early considerations that precede bill drafting, through committee hearings and floor debate, to the oversight of enacted laws and various agency activities.

CRS's analytic capabilities integrate multiple disciplines and research methodologies. In a fast-paced, ever-changing environment, CRS provides Congress with the vital, analytical support it needs to address the most complex public policy issues facing the nation. Its work incorporates program and legislative expertise, quantitative methodologies, and legal and economic analysis.