3. COMPETING IN THE WORLD ECONOMY
3.6. Electronic commerce
The Internet is redefining relations between busi-
nesses and consumers, enabling companies to sell
accessed (mobile phone, TV set, etc.). It suggests
their products and services around the globe on an
excluding orders received or placed by tele-
unprecedented scale. Shoppers can buy online at
phone, facsimile or conventional e-mail. A
their convenience at any time and from anywhere. E-
broader electronic commerce transaction may be
commerce therefore allows firms around the world to
conducted over any computer-mediated network
compete in the global marketplace, at lower costs.
(including the Internet). The OECD suggests
Use of the Internet to sell goods or services varies
including: orders received or placed on any
across industries and countries. In OECD countries, on
online application used in automated transac-
average, over 33% of all businesses (with 10 or more
tions such as Internet applications, EDI over pro-
employees) use the Internet for purchasing and about
prietary networks, Minitel or interactive
17% for selling goods or services.
telephone systems. It should be noted that dif-
Over half of all businesses in Australia, Canada, Germany,
ferences exist in the statistical treatment of
Ireland, New Zealand and Switzerland purchase via
e-commerce by countries.
the Internet. Approximately one-third of all busi-
nesses in Australia, New Zealand and the United
Kingdom sell goods or services via the Internet.
Canada and Korea show the largest differences
between the shares of businesses selling and purchas-
ing over the Internet. Large differences coincide with
Sources
exceptionally high use of Internet purchasing and,
generally, a below-average level of Internet selling.
OECD, ICT Database, May 2009.
In most European countries, the volume of Internet
Eurostat Community Survey on ICT Usage in Enter-
and other e-commerce sales transactions (including
prises, May 2009.
over proprietary electronic data interchange) is
increasing as a percentage of total turnover. In 2008,
Going further
Norway, Denmark, the United Kingdom and Ireland
reported the highest shares.
OECD (2008),  The Future of the Internet Economy: A Sta-
tistical Profile , www.oecd.org/dataoecd/44/56/40827598.pdf.
OECD (2009),  Guide to Measuring the Information Society
2009 , www.oecd.org/sti/measuring-infoeconomy/guide.
Measuring electronic commerce
OECD defines an Internet commerce transaction
Figure notes
as  the sale or purchase of goods or services,
whether between businesses, households, indi- The definition of Internet selling and purchasing var-
viduals, governments, and other public or private
ies between countries, with some explicitly including
organisations, conducted over the Internet .
orders placed by conventional e-mail (e.g. Australia
and Canada) and others explicitly excluding them
The goods or services are ordered over the Inter-
(e.g. Ireland, the United Kingdom and some other
net, but the payment or ultimate delivery of the
European countries). Most countries explicitly use the
good or service may be conducted on or off line.
OECD concept of Internet commerce, that is, goods or
The OECD suggests including: orders received or
services ordered over the Internet but payment and/or
placed on any Internet application used in auto-
delivery may be off line. For Australia, Internet income
mated transactions such as web pages, extra-
results from orders received via the Internet or the
nets and other applications that run over the
web for goods or services, where an order is a commit-
Internet (such as electronic data interchange
ment to purchase.
[EDI] over the Internet), or over any other web-
enabled application regardless of how the web is
Total sales via the Internet or other networks during
the reference year, excluding VAT.
OECD SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRY SCOREBOARD 2009 © OECD 2009
94
3. COMPETING IN THE WORLD ECONOMY
3.6. Electronic commerce
Internet selling and purchasing for total industry, 2008
Percentage of businesses with 10 or more employees
Selling Purchasing
Australia (2007)
Austria
Belgium
Canada (2007)
Czech Republic
Denmark
EU27
Finland (2007)
France
Germany (2007)
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Korea (2007)
Luxembourg
Mexico (2003)
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland (2005)
United Kingdom
60 40 20 0 20 40 60 80
%
1 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/745017767085
Percentage of enterprises total turnover from e-commerce, 2008
As a percentage of total enterprise turnover
%
30
20
10
0
1 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/745078151318
OECD SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRY SCOREBOARD 2009 © OECD 2009
95
l
)
)
)
)
)
)
c
y
c
s
a
y
e
e
d
n
7
d
n
a
i
i
i
i
m
r
7
7
7
7
6
7
a
c
c
l
l
e
d
n
n
2
r
g
a
o
a
t
0
0
0
0
e
0
0
n
b
b
a
n
d
a
w
U
u
p
l
l
d
s
g
e
a
0
0
0
0
0
0
a
e
u
u
r
t
e
l
E
r
o
r
S
g
n
u
r
2
2
2
2
2
2
p
p
o
r
r
w
F
P
I
G
n
u
A
e
o
e
e
i
N
S
H
y (
k (
y (
P
h
d (
d (
l
m (
t
r
n
n
n
a
k R
h R
e
a
u
d K
a
t
a
a
i
a
c
l
l
I
e
N
g
m
t
v
e
e
m
n
l
i
i
n
r
z
o
c
e
l
n
F
I
e
e
C
B
S
U
D
G