The Economics of Electronic Commerce [Textbook Binding]

Andrew B. Whinston (Author), Dale O. Stahl (Author), Soon-Yong Choi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1997

For courses in Electronic Commerce. Electronic commerce clearly crowns the list of technology-related media topics, as evidenced by the abundance of technical and legal literature. However, in virtually all of these publications, economics issues have largely been neglected. The Economics of Electronic Commerce applies standard microeconomic analyses to an entirely new industry-laying the foundation for the development of radically new business models. With detailed analysis to those involved in the actual production, marketing, and distribution of digital information products as well as professionals doing business in the electronic marketplace, this valuable reference demonstrates that businesses that achieve early success from applying these theories will enjoy a distinct competitive advantage in this newly defined world of business.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

This book is not about how to use the Web or how to set up a Web page. It introduces readers to the underlying economic aspects of the electronic marketplace in order to provide them with an understanding of the fundamental implications of technological developments, business strategies and policies.

From the Back Cover

While all other electronic commerce titles focus on "how to," The Economics of Electronic Commerce is the first to present current issues of electronic commerce from an economics perspective. Everyone involved in building electronic commerce applications and systems, as well as Internet consultants and economists, needs this foundational information for the future of the Internet.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Textbook Binding: 656 pages
• Publisher: MacMillan Publishing Company. (July 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578700140
• ISBN-13: 978-1578700141
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.6 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,975,296 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have book for those opening a virtual storefront!, March 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Economics of Electronic Commerce (Textbook Binding)

This is perhaps the best-of-breed book on e-commerce and the virtual marketplace. From begining to end, Choi, Stahl, and Whinston do a superb job of explaining what e-commerce is, isn't, and might be. Covers everything from Commerce to payment systems and security. Provides a lot to think about when considering whether or not to enter into Internet commerce or merely host a Web site offering product & service information about your company. Two shift keys up awarded to this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Won't help with your business plan, March 4, 2001

By 

T. Noyes (Charlotte, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Economics of Electronic Commerce (Textbook Binding)

Lets start with the good. Its broad and thorough, covering a range of topics.

If you are looking for a way to understand the basic (I underscore BASIC) economics of EC then this could be for you.

If you are in the business already, and looking to get some depth to your fundemental understanding of how to make money in EC, lets say for a business plan.. You should look somewhere else.

The book covers very elementary topics, and is not appropriate unless you are an undergraduate (e.g. what is a digital certificate, what are the economies of scale in software).

My feedback to the authors would be to take some real business models and include them as case studies. Of course since there are so few companies in the black, perhaps that would just scare off all the folks that read it from starting a business :-)

4.0 out of 5 stars Good overview of the business economics of e-commerce, July 30, 1998

By 

Caroline Wardle ([e-mail]) (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Economics of Electronic Commerce (Textbook Binding)

The book provides some new insights and useful models for both the student and the business person. A little superficial in some of the most exciting areas like virtual processes (process re-engineering based on electronic tools and enablers). Nonetheless, some good solid basics are to be found.