The use of e-government to encourage e-commerce development

There is a substantial overlap between e-commerce and e-government. The same regulatory and physical infrastructure that is necessary for e-government also provides the foundation for e-commerce. Governments encourage private sector e-commerce development through the adoption of laws and regulations designed to encourage online business initiatives. Telecommunications liberalization and reform also facilitate e-commerce by encouraging a multiplicity of voice and data service providers, thus increasing the range of services that are available, and reducing costs - all of which enable more individuals to have access to the network, thus increasing its value. This paper will explore the e-government/e-commerce relationship in more detail and offer specific suggestions as to ways in which e-government activities may be used to guide and encourage e-commerce development.