Governance Issues in the Digital Economy
The expansion of the Internet as a major component of the knowledge-based society has been one of the more important economic, social and political developments of the past decades. It is commonly claimed that this “revolution” has been unplanned by any government and has flourished precisely because the Net and its users have been largely free of regulation by any government. Actually, rules have been set quite rapidly in cyberspace, and contrary to what the cyber-libertarians have been arguing, digital technologies have not severed the historical links between market and state.
This book analyzes the role of governance issues in the development of the Internet and the digital economy. Some of the relevant policy issues, like competition policy and intellectual property rights, are actually not new or specific to the Internet. The problems raised by taxation of cyber activities may be considered more specific. Immaterial and transnational activities nevertheless raise a number of difficult problems for regulators in various areas from privacy to competition issues. Not all policy issues relating to the Internet can or should be resolved globally, though. This book considers several which are likely to be resolved in one way or another at the national level.
The papers in this volume focus on governance issues, but also analyze the underlying technological and economic trends. Two papers in particular consider the prospective evolution of Internet uses, including in developing countries, and the development of ubiquitous networks.
Online Chapters
- Introduction of Governance Issues in the Digital Economy, by Frédérique Sachwald
- Conclusion Governance Issues in the Digital Economy, by Frédérique Sachwald
Available in:
Regions and themes
Share
Download the full analysis
This page contains only a summary of our work. If you would like to have access to all the information from our research on the subject, you can download the full version in PDF format.
Author(s)
Find out more
Discover all our analysesKorea-EU Direct Investment Links: The Neglected Facet of a Tight Partnership
Despite their difference in size, Korea and the EU have developed over time a strong and deep relation through direct investment flows. Germany dominates the relationship, but there remains ample room for the other EU member-states to further develop their relations with Korea.
The EU and Innovation: When Business Meets Politics
Innovation, entrepreneurship, growth and competitiveness go hand in hand. This short paper looks at two areas where the EU plays a role to help drive innovation: regulation and financing.
A Transatlantic Free Trade Agreement? Weimar Triangle Analyses: French, Polish and German viewpoints on European questions
On an initiative of the German Council of Foreign Relations (DGAP), the Study Committee for Franco-German Relations (Cerfa) of the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) and the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM) are regularly publishing short contributions on a common subject, written by three experts of these institutes. The purpose of these “Weimar Triangle Analyses” is to give the French, Polish, and German views on central questions of European politics and European integration.
Decoupling the Oil and Gas Prices: Natural Gas Pricing in the Post-Financial Crisis Market
This paper looks into natural gas pricing in the post-financial crisis market and, in particular, examines the question whether the oil-linked gas pricing system has outlived its utility as global gas markets mature and converge more rapidly than expected and as large new resources of unconventional gas shift the gas terms-of-trade.