The report on the main findings of a project analyzing the European electronic information services (EIS) market. This is the 1st international study of this kind covering both the supply side & the demand side of EIS, plus additional important factors influencing the development of these markets, e.g. the national information policies, the markets for printed information products, the technical infrastructure in the different countries, the different library systems, information intermediaries & brokers, potential users/end-users, etc. Charts & tables.

Electronic commerce has the potential to radically alter some economic activities and the surrounding social environment. It changes the business environment, accelerates changes under way, increases interactivity, encourages openness, and alters the notion of time.This book examines such issues as the potential for growth of electronic commerce, its impact on the efficiency of the economy, its effects on how business is organized, and on markets, on jobs, and on society. It points out that countries will dismantle barriers to global electronic commerce at different rates, and that this may raise competitive concerns. It also discusses the electronic commerce's impacts on the costs of owning a "store," carrying inventory, conducting sales, placing and processing orders, customer support, and product distribution.

World Development Report 1994 examines the link between infrastructure and development and explores ways in which developing countries can improve both the provision and the quality of infrastructure services. In recent decades, developing countries have made substantial investments in infrastructure, achieving dramatic gains for households and producers by expanding their access to services such as safe water, sanitation, electric power, telecommunications, and transport. Even more infrastructure investment and expansion are needed in order to extend the reach of services - especially to people living in rural areas and to the poor. But as this report shows, the quantity of investment cannot be the exclusive focus of policy. Improving the quality of infrastructure service also is vital. Both quantity and quality improvements are essential to modernize and diversify production, help countries compete internationally, and accommodate rapid urbanization. The report identifies the basic cause of poor past performance as inadequate institutional incentives for improving the provision of infrastructure. To promote more efficient and responsive service delivery, incentives need to be changed through commercial management, competition, and user involvement. Several trends are helping to improve the performance of infrastructure. First, innovation in technology and in the regulatory management of markets makes more diversity possible in the supply of services. Second, an evaluation of the role of government is leading to a shift from direct government provision of services to increasing private sector provision and recent experience in many countries with public-private partnerships is highlighting new ways to increase efficiency and expand services. Third, increased concern about social and environmental sustainability has heightened public interest in infrastructure design and performance.