Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/95114 
Year of Publication: 
1999
Series/Report no.: 
IUI Working Paper No. 527
Publisher: 
The Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IUI), Stockholm
Abstract: 
This paper discusses how ICT and emerging electronic commerce in consumer products influence the relative efficiency in production of households and firms, resulting in changes in the division of tasks between these two types of agents. Increased information and competence of households, in combination with stiffer competition among firms, will also increase the power of households relative to firms, at least in a long-term perspective with free entry of firms. Households will also get more powerful channels to influence firms directly, i.e., beside the indirect influence via market transactions. We point out that this will result in various counter-reactions by firms, including increased differentiation of products and prices. Finally, we briefly consider various limitations and obstacles to electronic commerce in a long-term perspective.
Subjects: 
Information Technology
Household Production
Division of Labor
Market Powers
Competition
JEL: 
D13
D40
D80
L10
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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